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o  co 


m 


LIFE 


OF 


ST.     BRIGID, 


FIRST  ABBESS  OF  KILDARE, 

SPECIAL   PATRONESS   OF  KILDARE  DIOCESE,  AND 
GENERAL  PATRONESS   OF  IRELAND. 

' 


BY   THE 


REV.     JOHN     O'HANLON,     M.R.I. A 


ILLUSTRATED  \\ITH  TIIIRTKEV  ENGRAVINGS  ox  WOOD. 


DUBLIN: 

PRINTED    AND    PUBLISHED    BY    JOSEPH    DOLLARD, 
13  &   14  DAME   STREET,    AND  DAME  LANE. 

1877-  v 


|W|N 


CONTENTS. 


PREFACE         ...  iii 

CHAPTER  I. — Introduction  —  Author's  Han  and  Treatment  —  Authorities, 
ancient  and  modern,  for  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid — Critical 
Remarks — The  Holy  Virgin's  Parentage — Place  and  Date 
of  her  Birth  ...  ...  "  ...  ' ...  ...  ...  I 

CHATTER  II. — The  Scotch  Claim  to  St.  Brigid's  Birth  examined — Probable 
Origin  of  this  Error — Refutation — Early  and  supernatural 
Indications  of  Brigid's  Sanctity — Her  Spirit  of  Prophecy 
manifested — Her  infantile  Virtues — Her  probable  Acquaint 
ance  with  St.  Patrick  during  Childhood — Her  Resolution  to 
live  a  Virgin — Her  Characteristics  and  Comparison  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary  by  the  Irish  ...  ...  ...  33 

CHAPTER  III. — Statement  regarding  St.  Brigid's  Parents— Her  personal  and 
mental  Attractions  during  her  early  Youth — Alleged  Treat 
ment  by  her  Parents — Her  great  Charity  towards  the  Poor — 
Brought  before  Dunlaing,  King  of  Leinster — His  Admiration 
of  her  Virtues — Her  Resolution  to  embrace  a  Religious  Life 
— A  Suitor  proposes  Marriage  with  Assent  of  her  Family — 
She  rejects  this  Offer — Her  Religious  Profession,  and 
Opinions  advanced  relative  to  it — Probable  Time  and  Place 
— Establishment  of  St.  Brigid's  first  Religious  House — She 
selects  the  Beatitude  of  Mercy  for  her  special  Practice — Her 
Miracles  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  49 

CHAPTER  IV. — Remarkable  Manifestations  of  Providence  in  St.  Brigid's  Regard 
— She  cures  many  diseased  and  afflicted  Persons — Her 
Bounties  and  Hospitality — She  visits  St.  I  bar — Bishop  Mel's 
Religious  Intimacy  with  St.  Brigid — Her  Miracles  in  Theba 
or  Teffia — Said  to  have  met  St.  Patrick  at  Tailtin— Her 
Power  over  Demons  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  67 

CHAPTER  V. — At  St.  Lasara's  Convent  St.  Brigid  \vorks  Miracles — Her  Excur 
sion  to  Munster  with  Bishop  Ere — The  Holy  Abbess  visits 
Connaught — Her  Labours  and  Austerities  while  there — The 
People  of  Leinster  request  her  to  return — She  complies,  and 
re-crosses  the  Shannon — She  resolves  on  building  her  great 
Establishment  at  Kildare  ...  ...  ...  ...         77 

CHAPTER  VI. — Kings  of  Ireland  in  the  Fourth  and  Fifth  Centuries— Condition 
of  Leinster  after  the  Middle  of  the  Fifth  Century — Kildare — 
Period  when  selected  by  St.  Brigid  for  her  chief  Monastery 
— Gradual  Growth  and  Importance  of  the  Place — Instances 
of  her  Protection          ...  ...  ...  ...  ...         93 

CHAPTER  VII. —St.  Brigid's  Intimacy  with  St.  Patrick— Armagh— Foundation 
of  St.  Brigid  there — Her  Miracles— Vision  regarding  St. 
Patrick's  last  Resting-place — Her  Spirit  of  sublime  Recol 
lection  and  her  great  Charity — She  desires  the  Introduction 
of  the  Roman  Rite  for  Ireland  ...  ...  ...  ...  104 

CHAPTER  VIII. — Illand,  the  warrior  Prince  of  Leinster — St.  Brigid  visits  her 
Father,  Dubtach,  and  protects  his  Family — Favours  accorded 
to  the  Holy  Abbess — She  visits  King  Illand  and  blesses  him 
— The  Victories  of  this  Dynast  over  his  Enemies — The 
Borumha  Laighean — Wars  throughout  Ireland  during  St. 
Brigid's  Lifetime — Death  of  King  Illand — Victory  obtained 
after  his  Death  by  the  Lagenians,  through  the  special  Pro 
tection  of  St.  Brigid  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  115 


viii  CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  IX. — Different  Places  called  Kilbridc,  on  the  Eastern  and  South- 
Eastern  Coast  of  ancient  Leinster,  where  the  Holy  Abbess 
may  have  lived — St.  Brigid  and  St.  Senan — St.  Brigid 
restores  a  Cripple — An  insane  Man — Various  Miracles  which 
were  wrought  through  her  Merits — She  prevents  Bloodshed 
between  Conall  and  Cairbre — She  saves  Conall  from  his 
Enemies  ...  ...  ...  ...  •••  •••  128 

CHAPTER  X. — Ancient  Irish  Hospitality — Bishop  Broon's  Visit  to  St.  Brigid — 
The  Eight  Bishops  of  Tullach  na  n-Espuc — Holy  Brigid's 
Love  for  the  Poor — Her  generous  Good  Nature — Her  Gentle 
ness  of  Manner — Illustration  of  such  Characteristics — Her 
Chaplain,  Natfroich — St.  Ninnidh — St.  Conleath  appointed 
Bishop  of  Kildare  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  1-10 

CHAPTER  XI. — St.  Brigid's  Benignity  and  Prudence — Rewards  miraculously 
bestowed  on  the  Poor  and  on  her  Entertainers — St.  Ilinna — 
Miraculous  Occurrences — St.  Daria's  Sight  partially  restored 
— Faith  in  St.  Brigid's  Intercession  justified  ...  ...  154 

CHAPTER  XII. — The  Disciples  of  St.  Brigid— Her  holy  Contemporaries — She 
obtains  Pardon  for  a  Man  unjustly  condemned  to  Death — 
The  Drovers  and  Swine  escape  from  Wolves — St.  Brigid 
protects  a  young  Lady,  who  wished  to  be  a  Nun — She 
relieves  the  Road-makers — Other  remarkable  Occurrences  ...  159 

CHAPTER  XIII. — St.  Brigid's  reputed  Residence  at  Glastonbury — The  early 
Practice  of  Writing  and  Illuminating  in  Ireland — Writings 
ascribed  to  St.  Brigid — The  Conventual  Rule  and  Discipline, 
under  which  herself  and  her  Nuns  lived — Her  Charity  in 
relieving  the  Poor — Her  Modesty,  her  self-sacrificing  Spirit, 
her  Liberality,  her  Gifts  of  Mind  and  Person,  her  Powers  for 
healing  the  Sick  and  Infirm,  her  Vigils,  and  her  Care  for 
Subjects  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  169 

CHAPTER  XIV. — Vision  of  St.   Brigid   regarding  her   approaching   Death — Her 
Preparation — St.  Nennid  administers  the  last  Sacraments  to 
her — The  Year  and    Day  of   St.    Brigid's   Departure — The 
Place  where  it  occurred — Kildare  and  its  Religious  Founda 
tions — St.   Brigid's  Shrine  and  Relics — Honour  paid  to  her 
Memory         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...       177 

CHAPTER  XV. — Miracles  wrought  at  Kildare  after  St.  Brigid's  Death — The 
Falcon — St.  Brigid's  Relics  are  removed  to  Down— Remark 
able  Discovery  of  the  Bodies  of  St.  Patrick,  St.  Brigid  and 
St.  Columkille  in  that  City — Solemn  Translation  to  a 
magnificent  Tomb — Kildare  and  its  Traditions — Desecration 
of  holy  Remains  at  Down — Reputed  Removal  of  St.  Brigid's 
Head  to  Austria,  and  afterwards  to  Lisbon  ...  ...  lS6 

CHATTER  XVI. — Ancient  Churches,  Chapels,  Religious  Institutions,  and  Places 
dedicated  to,  or  called  after,  St.  Brigid,  in  Ireland — Holy 
Wells  and  Objects  associated  with  her  Memory — Modern 
Churches,  Chapels,  and  Convents,  dedicated  to  her — Religious 
Orders  placed  under  her  Patronage  ...  ...  ...  193 

CHAPTER  XVII. — Churches  and  Religious  Institutes  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  in  the 
British  Islands,  in  ancient  and  modern  Times,  as  also  on  the 
Continent  of  Europe,  and  in  America — Festivals,  Commemo 
rations,  Offices,  Hymns,  Relics,  Usages,  and  popular 
Memorials,  referring  to  her — Conclusion  "  ...  ...  211 


PREFACE. 


THE  publication  of  a  full  and  critical  Life  of  Ireland's  Virgin  Patroness  had 
long  been  desired,  by  the  clergy  and  laity  of  our  country.  While  preparing 
the  following  Biography,  as  a  leading  feature  in  his  "  Lives  of  the  Irish 
Saints,"  the  author  was  urged,  by  many  devout  clients  of  St.  Erigid,  to  issue 
it  in  a  separate  form,  to  satisfy  the  wants  and  wishes  of  numerous  kind 
friends.  Not  alone  members  of  religious  communities,  under  the  special 
patronage  of  this  holy  virgin,  and  pastors  or  teachers,  whose  churches  or 
educational  institutions  have  been  placed  under  her  invocation,  will  be 
afforded  a  better  opportunity,  for  becoming  acquainted  with  her  surpassing 
virtues  and  miracles,  through  this  medium  ;  but,  even  the  general  public  can 
learn  such  particulars  of  her  Life,  as  may  serve  still  more  to  extend  the  love 
and  veneration,  due  to  her  memory  and  merits. 

•Abroad,  as  well  as  at  home,  the  Irish  race  has  never  ceased  to  regard  this 
holy  virgin  as  a  bright  example  of  the  active  and  contemplative  life,  united 
in  a  purity  of  purpose  and  an  energy  of  will,  which  enabled  her  to  confer 
countless  blessings,  on  the  country  of  her  birth,  and  during  the  period  when 
she  flourished  ;  but,  even  in  our  own  times,  and  to  the  most  remote  parts  of 
the  earth,  her  fame  has  been  diffused  ;  while,  thousands  of  Erin's  daughters, 
who  have  received  her  name  in  Baptism,  and  who  have  assumed  it  at  Con 
firmation—not  to  speak  of  the  numbers  who  have  chosen  to  be  called  by  it  in 
the  hallowed  retirement  of  the  cloister— are  justly  proud  of  and  grateful  for 
that  distinction  and  those  spiritual  advantages,  which  are  inseparably  con 
nected  with  a  pious  and  faithful  regard,  for  the  efficacy  of  her  intercession. 
After  our  illustrious  Apostle,  St.  Patrick,  no  other  Irish  saint,  probably,  has 
secured  a  greater  depth  of  affection  and  reverence,  in  the  hearts  of  our  people, 
than  she,  who,  in  so  special  a  manner,  has  been  designated,  "  the  Mary  of 
Erin."  At  a  time,  when  our  Island  was  just  emerging  from  the  darkness  of 
heathen  superstition,  she  obtained  heavenly  monitions  and  inspiration,  while 
eagerly  receiving  the  teaching  and  impulse  that  glorious  missionary  so  trium 
phantly  proclaimed  and  imparted  to  a  believing  nation.  Seldom,  if  ever,  has 
the  Church  witnessed  more  glorious  and  peaceful  conquests  than  these  effected, 
through  the  arguments  and  preaching  of  St.  Patrick;  while,  among  all  his 
distinguished  converts,  none  appear  to  move  in  more  radiant  light,  than  the 
nobly  born  and  predestined  child  of  grace,  St.  Brigid.  To  trace  her  brilliant 
career,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  forms  a  task  of  no  ordinary  difficulty  for  her 


iv  PREFACE. 

biographer ;  to  show  forth,  some  of  the  wonderful  manifestations  of  Divine 
Providence,  in  her  behalf,  is  the  effort  so  inadequately  attempted  in  succeeding 
pages. 

That  peculiarly  spiritual  and  national  character  of  the  people  converted 
led  this  holy  virgin  to  a  sphere  of  usefulness,  for  which  her  talents  and  vir 
tues  were  admirably  adapted.  The  Irish  nation  even  yet  retains  that  impress, 
which  it  received  from  our  glorious  Apostle,  Patrick,  and  in  a  manner,  too, 
that  no  other  Christian  community  has  excelled.  It  has  preserved  the 
spirit  and  mould  of  his  noble  generosity  and  self-devotion,  from  the  fifth  to 
the  nineteenth  century.  Among  St.  Patrick's  spiritual  daughters,  the  dis 
tinguished  subject  of  the  present  biography  holds  a  foremost  place.  Her 
bright  example  has  brought  numerous  Irish  females  to  a  state  of  holiness  on 
earth  and  to  an  eternal  reward  in  Heaven.  In  the  career  of  St.  Brigid,  im 
pulses  of  religious  zeal  were  tempered  and  purified  by  contact,  with  the 
duties  of  an  active  public  life  ;  while,  the  rules  of  a  virtuous  discipline  and 
the  occupations  of  useful  labour  directed  the  communities  and  houses, 
over  which  she  so  happily  presided.  She  travelled  much  to  engage  in  the 
great  work  of  her  time — the  conversion  in  detail  of  both  pagans  and 
believers.  In  this  work,  she  seemed  to  care  for  no  amount  of  toil,  and 
hardly  to  know  of  any  rest  or  relaxation. 

It  must  appear  evident,  the  writer  has  not  been  desirous  of  obtruding 
original  views,  on  the  reader's  attention,  at  doubtful  passages  of  her  Life, 
lor  the  mere  purpose  of  supporting  some  favourite  theory  or  paradox,  not 
sufficiently  borne  out  by  legitimate  proofs  or  inferences.  He  has  rather  pre 
ferred  citing  his  authority  for  each  statement,  or  indicating  sources  for  infor 
mation,  which  he  found  most  available  or  useful.  On  the  whole,  the  nu 
merous  notes  and  illustrations,  comprising  literary  references  and  acknow 
ledgments,  which  will  be  found  interspersed  throughout  this  biography,  must 
tend  to  manifest  distrust  and  hesitancy  in  forming  opinions,  and  still  more  in 
resolving  controvertible  statements.  The  author  has  always  been  of  opinion, 
that  materials,  available  for  historical  investigation,  should  be  employed  in 
delineating  only  truthful  pictures  and  a  correct  appreciation  of  the  past, 
rather  than  be  produced  as  mere  adjuncts,  giving  undue  prominence  to  the 
historian's  peculiar  opinions,  prejudices,  or  prepossessions.  And,  with  some 
slight  modification,  these  remarks  will  apply  to  the  biographer  of  eminent 
individuals,  whose  actions  and  character  illustrate  the  personality  of  contem 
poraneous  history.  We  have  much  to  condemn,  on  the  score  of  partial  and 
incompetent  writers,  who  have  undertaken  to  treat  matters,  relating  to 
general,  and  especially  to  ecclesiastical,  Irish  History.  Happily,  however, 
we  have  much  reason  to  rejoice,  that  learned,  laborious,  and  impartial 
investigators  have  wrought  successfully,  in  various  departments  of  native 
historical  and  literary  enquiry.  These  have  chased  away  many  mists  and 
misrepresentations,  which  had  been  accumulating  through  lapse  of  time, 
owing  to  various  incorrect  statements,  made  by  injudicious  or  incompetent 
historians  and  antiquaries.  While  having  occasion  to  lament  irretrievable 


PREFACE.  v 

losses,  sustained  by  lovers  of  archaeological  researches,  from  the  mutilation 
and  total  destruction  of  so  many  national  records,  inscriptions,  and  monu 
ments  of  past  ages ;  yet,  it  is  a  fortunate  circumstance,  that  very  many 
curious  manuscripts  and  memorials  have  escaped  the  general  wreck,  and 
that  several  material  landmarks  have  survived  the  ravages  of  time.  These 
greatly  tend  to  elucidate  the  incidents  of  distant  periods,  and  to  corroborate 
many  traditions,  which,  otherwise,  must  rest  upon  rather  doubtful  authority. 
In  no  department  of  archaic  research  are  those  evidences  more  desirable — 
and  happily  better  perpetuated — than  in  that  of  our  ecclesiastical  Antiquities 
and  Biography. 

In  compiling  the  following  "  Life  of  St.  Brigid/'  the  author  has  been  care 
ful  to  consult  original  authorities,  when  these  were  attainable,  for  nearly  all 
his  statements.  By  adopting  this  practice,  throughout,  as  a  development  of 
the  system  on  which  his  biography  has  been  prepared,  it  will  enable  readers 
to  discriminate,  between  the  authority  on  which  each  statement  is  made,  and 
the  author's  individual  opinions,  in  certain  cases.  And,  in  this  connection, 
it  must  be  remarked,  he  would  not  have  :he  reader  infer,  that  any  degree  of 
credence  should  be  attached  to  such  opinions  or  statements — however  care 
fully  or  impartially  formed — unless  these  carry  with  them  a  sufficient  amount 
of  evidence  or  probability,  to  satisfy  the  unbiassed  judgment  of  persons,  fully 
capable  of  entering  upon  a  course  of  strict  historical  investigation  and 
enquiry. 

Our  very  earliest  recollections  carry  us  back  to  the  time,  when  often  we 
were  accustomed  to  gaze  on  the  tall  Round  Tower  of  Kildare,  and  its  pile 
of  adjoining  ruins,  which,  even  in  decay,  lifted  their  mysterious  battlements 
high  over  the  wide-spreading  plains  around  them,  and  when,  altogether  un 
conscious,  regarding  the  hallowed  associations  of  their  age  and  place,  in  the 
simple  character  of  pilgrim,  we  could  hardly  analyse  what  we  saw  and  felt, 
on  the  site  itself.  Those  memories,  which  were  awakened  within  us,  when 
we  visited  for  the  first  time  "  Kildare's  holy  fane,"  were  merely  the  vague  im 
pressions  of  childhood  ;  but,  there  remained  a  curiosity  to  be  gratified  with 
growing  years,  and,  more  especially,  when  that  veneration,  entertained  by 
the  people  for  their  great  Patroness,  formed  a  spell-word  of  interest  and  ad 
miration  throughout  the  whole  diocese.  Nothing  then  remained,  but  those 
cold  gray  ruins,  that  had  no  type  in  the  present  day,  and  that  dismantled 
aspiring  tower,  which  reared  its  graceful  and  yet  massive  pile,  as  we 
scanned  its  hoary,  moss-grown  walls,  to  the  very  highest  string-course  of 
wonderful  masonry.  In  the  midst  of  present  desolation,  the  glories  of  the 
past  flitted,  with  the  haze  and  indistinctness  of  a  dream,  before  our  mental 
vision.  The  local  traditions,  regarding  St.  Brigid,  were  still  more  tantalizing 
and  wonderful.  Our  after  studies,  however,  served  to  draw  from  void  and 
obscurity,  some  glimpses  of  reality.  If  the  shadows  be  not  wholly  dissi 
pated,  we  have  reason  to  feel  gratified  and  assured,  that  effort  and  will  shall 
be  exercised,  by  millions  of  the  Irish  race,  even  yet  unborn,  to  become 
familiar  with  the  details  of  her  extraordinary  labours,  virtues  and  miracles. 


vi  PREP  ACE. 

Eloquence,  piety,  imagination,  taste,  and  genius,  will  long  unite  to  perpe 
tuate  their  memory,  and  to  invest  with  their  attractions,  the  story  of  St. 
Brigid.  This  unpretending  record,  which  the  writer  has  here  presented,  may 
help  the  reader  to  some  comprehension  of  a  remote  period,  of  social  customs 
and  manners  now  become  obsolete,  of  exalted  enthusiasm  in  the  practice  of 
great  and  heroic  deeds,  and  of  a  triumphant  success,  in  the  achievement  of 
a  civilization,  which  has  no  abiding  force,  except  when  directed  and  con 
trolled  by  the  Science  of  the  Saints. 


DUBLIN  :  CHURCH  OF  SS.  MICHAEL  AND  JOHN, 
Feast  of  Saint  Brigid,  iSff. 


I  LLUSTR  ATION  S. 


Page 

Kildare  Ruins                ...                 ...                 ...                                      ...  ...  IO 

Church  Ruins  at  Foughart,  Co  Louth             ...                ...                ...  '  27 

St.  Brigid's  Well,  Faughart            ...                                     ...                 ...  ...  31 

Old  Church  Ruins  at  Ardagh         ...                 ...                 ...                 ...  ...  64 

Franciscan  Abbey  Ruins,  at  Slane                     ...                   ..                 ...  ...  81 

City  of  Armagh,  from  the  East      ...                 ...                 ...                 ...  ...  108 

Kilbride,  Co.  Dublin                        ...                  ...                 ...                 ...  ...  129 

Scattery  Island,  and  Mouth  of  the  Shannon    ...                 ...                 ...  ...  131 

Tullagh  Old  Church,  Co.  Dublin                      ...                ...                ...  ...  144 

Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  of  St.  Brigid,  Kilcullen,  Co.  Kildare  ...  161 

The  Grey  Abbey,  Kildare               ...                 ...                 ...                 ...  ...  184 

The  Old  Ruins  of  Killester             ...                ...                ...                ...  ...  195 

Church  of  the  Assumption,  of  St.  Michael,  of  St.  Patrick,  and  of  St.  Brigid,  Wexford  209 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID, 


FIRST   ABBESS    OF    KILDARE, 
SPECIAL    PATRONESS  OF  KILDARE    DIOCESE, 

AM) 

(Snueral      air0Hjcs$  of 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R 


THE  path  of  a.  modern  biographer,  while  treating  about  the  Acts  of 
Ireland's  great  Patroness,  is  beset  with  difficulties  of  a  varied  nature. 
These  arise,  owing  not  so  much  to  a  want  of  materials  for  his  task,  as  from 
the  legendary,  conflicting,  and  oftentimes  contradictory  accounts,  so  fre 
quently  met' with,  in  several  ancient  tracts,  relative  to  this  holy  virgin. 
Occasionally,  however,  the  most  exacting  investigator  of  our  traditions  and 
antiquities  will  find  facts  or  circumstances,  mingled  with  legendary  or  irre 
concilable  narratives,  deserving  more  than  ordinary  significance  and  having 
much  historic  importance.  It  can  hardly  admit  of  question,  how  pleasure 
and  instruction,  derivable  from  reading  the  most  celebrated  epic  poems  of 
ancient  and  modern  times,  should  be  materially  lessened,  if  presented  by 
their  authors,  in  a  didactic  or  an  unimaginative  style,  avoiding  the  introduc 
tion  of  mythic  episodes  and  personages,  or  the  use  of  exaggerated  metaphors 
and  fancies.  We  must  be  ready  to  allow,  that  an  undercurrent  of  historic 
truth  sometimes  sustains  a  superstructure  of  mythology,  in  such  poems,  and 
that  it  directs  the  interest  and  moral,  evolved  from  poetic  imaginings.  _  By  a 
parity  of  reasoning — although  in  a  widely  different  sense — the  truly  religious 
and  disciplined  spirit  of  an  enlightened  and  a  pious  Christian  will  not  too 
readily  reject  various  interesting  legends,  contained  in  the  acts  of  our  na 
tional  Saints,  when  he  is  free  to  receive  them  on  the  weight,  or  set  them  in 
abeyance  on  the  want,  of  sustaining  evidence.  Many  sceptical  or  over  fasti 
dious  critics  undervalue  the  force  of  popular  traditions,  and  regard  such 
attested  miracles  as  incredible  or  legendary  ;  but,  while  those  persons  desire 
to  remove  cockle  from  the  field  of  Irish  hagiology,  they  possibly  incur  some 
risk,  at  the  same  time,  of  rooting  up  good  seed  with  the  tares.  Our  Divine 
Redeemer,  regarding  the  existence  of  good  and  evil,  has  already  observed, 

B 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


in  a  most  beautiful  and  instructive  parable,  "  Suffer  both  to  grow  until  the 
harvest,  and  in  the  time  of  the  harvest,  I  will  say  to  the  reapers  :  '  Gather 
up  first  the  cockle,  and  bind  it  into  bundles  to  burn,  but  the  wheat  gather  ye 
into  my  barn/'"1  The  known  application  of  this  parable,  respecting  the 
sower  and  the  cockle,  is  obvious  to  the  mind  of  every  well-instructed 
Christian.  Without  any  unnatural  perversion  of  meaning,  it  may  likewise 
apply  to  topics  here  introduced,  but  in  a  mode  somewhat  different.  A 
multitude  of  legends  will  doubtless  be  found  interpolated,  among  St.  Brigid's 
authentic  acts  and  miracles.  Such  fictions  create  so  much  embarrassment, 
in  any  effort  to  discriminate  truth  and  error,  that  it  may  be  regarded  as  an 
utterly  impracticable  project,  at  the  present  day,  to  draw  in  many  cases  a 
very  marked  line  of  distinction.  Perhaps,  no  complete  biography  can  be 
presented  to  the  reader,  without  running  some  risk  of  overloading  it  with  un 
necessary,  and  frequently  with  incongruous,  matter.  It  must  be  observed, 
while  depreciating  an  insertion  of  fables,  as  opposed  to  correct  taste  and 
sound  historic  deduction,  the  plan  of  this  present  biography  may  not  warrant 
absolute  departure  from  records  left  us  by  ancient  writers,  however  traditional 
and  unsatisfactory  such  accounts  hippen  to  appear;  especially,  when  no 
amount  of  credit  is  claimed  for  their  authenticity,  but  such  as  may  be  estab 
lished,  by  tests  of  strict  evidence,  or  by  the  dictates  of  acute  judgment. 
Religious  feeling  and  Christian  faith  do  not  require  for  their  preservation 
and  growth,  the  production  and  publication  of  many  legends,  to  be  found  in 
special  Acts  of  our  national  saints.  Those  narratives,  however,  were  con 
sonant  with  a  prevalent  taste,  and  with  the  sentiments  of  our  ancestors,  in 
past  ages.  Even  yet,  when  received  with  due  caution,  and  with  a  just, 
discriminating  spirit,  such  legends  may  be  found,  not  altogether  devoid  of 
edification,  granting  their  authenticity  to  be  very  questionable.  A  well-re 
gulated  mind  will  regard  them,  chiefly  as  emanations  of  a  former  period,  and 
as  illustrations  of  popular  opinion,  national  feeling  or  religious  impressions, 
which  widely  prevailed  during  times,  when  those  narratives  had  been  written. 

Entering  upon  the  subject  of  our  great  saint's  biography,  it  will  be  neces 
sary  to  premise  a  few  observations  concerning  its  plan  and  treatment,  before 
referring  to  authorities,  on  which  subsequent  statements  are  made.  It  is 
the  writer's  intention,  to  embody  at  least  the  most  probable  and  substantial 
accounts  former  chroniclers  have  handed  down,  regarding  this  holy  virgin, 
according  to  the  best  possible  chronological  order,  and  most  consecutive 
form,  consistent  with  the  intricacy  of  his  subject. 

Wherever  discrepancies  may  be  detected,  in  accounts  left  by  various 
writers,  those  differences  are  faithfully  pointed  out,  either  in  the  text  or  in 
its  accompanying  notes.  Again,  several  disquisitions  or  comments,  not 
claiming  the  character  of  being  original,  in  most  cases,  are  usually  the  result 
of  attentive  reading  or  careful  enquiry  ;  while  those  dissertations  are  placed, 
according  to  the  writer's  best  opinion,  in  their  most  appropriate  position. 
He  has  also  preferred  allowing  the  studious  reader's  exercise  of  his  own 
sagacity  and  critical  discrimination,  rather  to  test  the  accuracy  of  statements 
made,  than  to  assume  their  solution,  where  mistakes  might  so  easily  be  in 
troduced.  The  author  supposes,  those  authorities  quoted  so  frequently 
must  exonerate  himself  from  any  necessity  for  obtruding  judgments,  often 
liable  to  be  ill-founded.  In  this  life,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  present 
the  fullest  and  most  complete  narrative  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  hitherto  found  in 
the  English  language.  Sensible  of  those  obvious  and  consequent  difficulties 
he  must  expect  to  encounter,  mistakes  are  frequently  inevitable,  while  the 


CHAPTER  I.—'  St.  Matt,  xiii.,  30. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


writer  is  almost  as  certain  to  incur  censure  from  the  learned  and  critical,  for 
its  many  elaborations  and  redundancies,  as  for  its  numberless  defects,  and 
unavoidable  inaccuracies. 

.  Already  several  elegantly  written,  and  tolerably  correct,  compendiums  of 
Saint  Erigid;s  Acts  have  appeared  in  an  English  dress.  Many  of  these  are 
most  creditable  to  the  literary  taste  and  correct  judgment  of  their  respective 
authors.  Such  publications  have  supplied  an  admitted  void  in  our  popular 
literature.  Still  a  critical  and  researchftil  life  of  Ireland's  holy  Patroness  the 
writer  chiefly  desires  to  produce;  and,  however  he  may  disappoint  the  ex 
pectations  of  capable  students,  he  cannot  conceal  from  himself  the  inherent 
difficulties  of  his  task,  and  the  utter  impossibility  of  surmounting  them,  saving 
with  a  relative  measure  of  success.  That  degree  of  credibility  attaching  to 
authorities  or  writers,  treating  about  our  great  Virgin  Saint,  should  pre-occupy 
the  readers  mind,  at  the  very  start  of  our  enquiry.  Impartial  opinions  and 
exact  methods  of  examination  are  required,  when  following  die  intricate  pro 
cess  of  inductive  biographical  research,  where  statements  are  often  liable  to 
mislead.  In  accordance  with  the  general  scope  and  design  of  this  life,  its 
authorities  must  first  be  given,  after  an  unpretending  and  a  simple  arrange 
ment.  A  brief  account  of  the  probable  periods  when  her  biographers  wrote, 
with  their  respective  opportunities  for  acquiring  information,  may  prove 
desirable;  even  though  conjecture  must  be  substituted  lor  more  reliable 
knowledge,  in  regard  to  several  subjects  of  special  importance  and  enquiry. 

A\  e  shall  endeavour  to  enumerate  the  several  ancient  writers,  who  are 
stated  to  have  commemorated  St.  Urigid's  Acts  and  virtues,  so  far  as  known 
to  us,  while  observing  that  exact  chronological  order,  in  which  each  compiler 
seems  to  have  flourished,  or  written,  or  died.  It  may  be  premised,  that 
nearly  all  of  these  writers  are  Irishmen,  and  that  several  are  classed  among 
our  native  saints.  Among  the  earliest  we  must  regard  St.  Eiech,2  who 
flourished  in  or  about  the  year  520,  the  disciple  of  St.  Patrick  and  first  chief 
bishop  of  Lcinster.  He  is  thought  possibly  to  have  composed  a  hymn  in 
praise  of  St.  Prigid.3  One  attributed  to  him,  however,  seems  to  indicate, 
that  this  holy  virgin  had  departed  from  life,  before  it  had  been  composed.* 
St.  Eiech  was  her  contemporary  ;  yet,  it  is  strange,  we  find  no  allusion  to 
him  in  her  Acts.  Eiech  does  not  seem  to  have  lived,  beyond  the  year  530.5 


-  See  his  Life  at  the  I2th  of  October.  served.     This  he  says  may  be  instanced,  in 

3  It  is  said  to  commence  with  these  words  :  the  fourth  and   fifth  lines.     Yet,  the  Latin 
"  Audite  \  irginis  laudes."  reader  must  find,  on  investigation,  that  there 

4  In  the^  "  Leabhur  lomaun,"  or   "  Book  are  sixteen  syllable*  in  the.-e  lines  mentioned, 
of  Hymns" — now  preserved  in  the   Francis-  as  in  most  of  the  other  stanzas.     There  are, 
can  Library,  Dublin— an  old  scholiast  pre-  however,  five  lines  which  either  fall  short, 
fixed   the  following /nw/H«;«  or   argument  or  exceed  that  number  of  syllables.    Secondly, 
to  this  hymn,  and  which  may  thus  be  trans-  as  published   by  Colgan,  the  hymn  consists 
lated   into   English.       "St.    A'ennid    Lam-  of  live  instead  of  four  strophes.      Thirdly,  if 
hoidhain,  that  is,  of  the  Clean   Hand,  com-  -what  the  scholiast   states   be   true,  that   the 
posed  this  hymn  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  or  words,    "Audite    Virginia     laudes,"    com- 
St.     I-icg    ot     Sletty  ;       'Audite     Virginis  menced    the    hymn,    and    that    there    were 
laudes'   is   its  beginning  :  or,    St.    Ultan   of  four  divisions  or  parts  in  it,  two  of  the  last 
Ar  Ibrecain   composed  it,  in   honour  of  St.  must  be  wanting,  and  three  other  strophes, 
Brigid.      It  comprises  St.  Brigid's  miracles  which  are  placed  before  these  lines,  must 
in  one  book  :  an  alphabetical  order  is  there  have  been  intended  as  a  preface.     Or,  if  we 
preserved,  and  it  is  written   in  imitation  of  can  be  sure,  that  absolutely  speaking,  there 
Nosearian  metre.     There  are  four  chapters  were  only  four  verses  in  it,  the   fifth   which 
in  it,  and  four  lines   in  each   chapter,  with  is  net  found  in  the  St.  Magnus'  manuscript, 
sixteen    syllables    in    each    line."      Three  must  be  an  addition  to  the  original  number, 
points  mu.it  here  be  noted,  Colgan  remarks.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Tertia  Vita  S. 
First,  in  the  hymn  he  published,  the  number  Brigid  a;,  n.  80,  p.  445. 

of  sixteen  syllables  in  each  line  is  not  prc-  s  This  Colgan  endeavours  to  show,  in  hib 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Nearly  contemporaneous  in  point  of  antiquity,  we  may  regard  St.  Nmm- 
dius,6  surnamcd  Laimhiohain.?     Me   is   said  to  have  treated   on  the   virtues 
and  miracles  of  St.  Brigid.     This  is  the  statement  of  some  writers.       As  her 
chaplain  and  most  intimate  friend,  he  must  have  had  special  advantages  for 
acquiring  information  on  this  subject  ;  and  therefore,  a  life  oi  the  saint,  com 
posed  by  him,  should  be  regarded  as  one  of  inestimable  value   and  authen 
ticity.     Vet,  Colgan  thinks,  although  1-iech  and  Nennidius,  in  all  likelihood, 
wrote  something  concerning  St.  Brigid,  the  hymn  in   question   should   ratner 
be   attributed  to  St.  Ultan,  on   account  of  certain   reasons   adduced.?     St. 
Nennidius,  called  also   Xenius,10  administered   Holy  Viaticum   to   tne  illus 
trious  virgin,  when  she  died,  about  A.D.  523,  and  consequently  he  flourished 
early  in  the  sixth  century.     St.  Brendan,  Bishop  of  Clonfert,  is  said  to  have 
written  about  the  virtues  and  miracles  of  St.  Brigid.11     lie  flourished,  like 
wise,  alter  her  time,  and  he  died  on  the    i6th   of  May,"  A.D.   576-'^     St. 
Brogan  Cloen,1-*  of  Rostuirk  in  (J,sory,  and  who  probably  flourished   m  tl 
seventh  century,  composed  an   Irish   hynm^in   praise   of  St.  Bngid.1 
this  various  manuscript  copies  remain.17     Besides  these  authors,  Cogitosus,10 
who  flourished  probably  alter  the  sixth  and  before  the  ninth  century,  wrote  a 
celebrated  treatise  on  the  life  and  virtues  of  St.  Brigid.     Several  manuscript 
copies  of  this  tract  are  yet  to  be  found.1?     Again,  the  illustrious  St.  Comm- 
kille  20  Apostle  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  is  thought  to  have  written  a  hymn  01 
the  life,  and  in  praise,  of  St.  Brigid.-     He  is  reputed  to  have  composed  it,23 
nhout  A.D.  563,  on  his  passage  to  Britain.    St.  Columkille  is  generally  thought 
lo  have  departed  this  life,  in  the  year  596.^ 


Fourth  Appendix  to  St.  Patrick's  Acts,  and 
in  that  Catalogue  of  authors,  who  wrote 
biographies  of  our  national  Apostle. 

6  See  his  Life  at  the  2nd  of  April. 

7  Believing  him  to  have  been   Abbot   of 
Inis-Muighe-Samh,    an    island    on    Lough 
Lrne,    Colgan   published    his    Aets    in    the 
"  Acta  Sanctorum   llibernuc,"  xviii.  Janu- 
arii,  pp.  Hi  to  115. 

8  See  Sir  James  Ware,  "  De  Scriptoribus 
Hibernire,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  i.,  p.  3. 

'•>  In  his  notes  to  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life. 

10  According  to  the  Third,  Fourth  and 
Fifth  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  as  published  by 
Colgan. 

71  The  Scholiast  on  an  Irish  hymn,  com 
posed  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  and  which 
begins  with  the  words,  "Brigid  be  bhith- 
maith,"  doubts  as  to  whether  the  hymn,  in 
question,  should  be  assigned  to  St.  Brendan 
or  to  St.  Columba.  But,  Colgan  supposed, 
it  should  rather  be  attributed  to  St.  Co- 
lumba's  pen,  as  well  because  of  a  statement 
contained  in  an  Irish  Life  of  Si.  Brigid,  as 
on  account  of  a  cause  alleged  by  the  afore 
said  Scholiast  for  composing  this  hymn,  and 
more  nearly  indicating  such  a  conclusion. 

12  Colgan  promised  to  say  more  regarding 
him,  at  that  day,  when  his  Life  will  be 
found  in  this  collection. 

*3  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  208,  209. 

'•*  See  his  Life  at  the  ijth  of  September. 
'5  That     published    by    Colgan     has     53 
stanzas,  while   one,  attributed   to  this   same 
Brogan  Cloen,  among  the  Trinity  College 


Manuscripts,   Dublin,   and  classed   K.  4,  2, 
has  only  34  stan/as. 

15  In  the  vol.  xviii.,  belonging  to_  the 
Betham  Collection  of  Manuscripts  of  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy,  and  written  by 
Michael  O'Longan,  about  the  year  1760, 
there  is  a  "  Hymnus  dc  Virtutibus  et  mira- 
culis  SancUe  Brigida_>  Kilclariensis  abbatissa: 
et  patronoj,"  a  Sancto  Brigano,  p.  82.  It 
appears  to  have  been  copied  from  Colgan. 

J?  There  arc  seven  quatrains  of  a  poem  on 
St.  Brigid  attributed  to  St.  Brogan,  and. 
these  are  followed  by  St.  Brogan's  hymn  to 
St.  Brigid,  published  by  Colgan,  in  vol. 
xli.,  a  small  410  paper  of  the  Betham  Manu 
script  Collection  of  the  Royal  Irish  Aca 
demy,  at  p.  143  and  p.  144.  These  are 
written  by  Mr.  Owen  Connellan. 

18  This  writer  is  thought  to  be  the  St. 
Cogitosus,  surnamcd  the  Wise,  whose  life 
occurs  at  the  i8th  of  April. 

:9  At  Eichstaett   in   Germany,  there  is  a 

copy  of  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  by  Cogitosus. 

"°  See  his  Life  at  the  Qlh  of  June. 

2T  Colgan  supposed  he  had  not  seen  any 

of  Columba' s  compositions  on  this  subject, 

except  what  had  already  been  given  through 

a  Latin  version  in  his   second   appendix  to 

St.  Brigid's   Acts   (cap.  xxiv. ),   and   which, 

in  the    original,    begins    with    these   words 

"  Brigid  be  bhithmaith." 

~  The  Scholiast  on  this  hymn,  and  an 
Irish  life  of  St.  Brigid,  attribute  its  com 
position  to  St.  Columba. 

=3  On  the  gth  day  of  June.  This  is  shown 
in  the  fourth  appendix  to  his  Acts.  Sec 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


St.  Ultan,24  Bishop  of  Ardhraccan,  in  Meatb,  it  is  believed,  wrote  a  book 
on  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid.25  He  also,  it  is  said,  composed  a  hymn,  in  her 
praise.25  Colgan  has  assigned  both  of  these  tracts  to  the  third  place  among 
his  various  published  acts  of  our  saint.27  This  author  flourished  about  A.D. 
580,  and  he  is  reputed  to  have  died,  at  a  very  old  age.  on  the  4th  of  Sep 
tember.  A.D.  656. 2S  St.  Aleran,  or  Aileran,  sometimes  called  Eleran,^  and 
surnamed  the  Wise,  was  a  president  or  chief-director  over  Clonard  School, 
in  Mcath.  He  wrote  St.  Brigid's  Life.30  This  is  testified  by  St.  Coelan, 
who  himself  composed  metrical  acts  of  St.  Brigid.31  St.  Aileran's  feast  has 
been  assigned  incorrectly  to  the  nth  of  August. •">-'  and  his  death  is  set  down 
at  664.  This  year  of*  mortality,  however,  seems  rather  referable  to  St. 
Aileran  the  Wise,3-  whose  feast  is  held  on  the  2Qth  of  December.  Kilian 
or  Coelanus,  of  Inis-Keltra,34  composed  St.  Brigid's  Life  in  verse.35  This 
forms  the  sixth  and  last  of  her  acts,  as  published  by  Colgan.36  In  his  notes, 
postfixed  to  this  metrical  life,37  the  editor  attempts  to  prove  that  Coelan 
llourished  about  the  end  of  the  seventh  or  beginning  of  the  eighth  century.33 
Animosus,  who  appears  to  have  acquired  the  name  Anmchiudh  or  Anmire, 
among  the  Irish,  is  said  to  have  written  many  books  of  St.  Brigid's  acts.39 
This  author,  as  has  been  thought,  nourished  about  the  year  950. -»°  At  a 
period  subsequent  to  the  time  of  writers  already  named,  many  others,  who 
nourished  after  the  commencement  of  the  twelfth  century,  wrote  her  life. 
Among  these  authors  may  be  enumerated,  Laurence  of  Durham, <r  who  is 


Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  cap.  iv., 
v.,  vi.,  pp.  48.5  to  486. 

-'4  Sec  his  Life  at  the  4th  of  September. 

'-'•'  In  Harris'  Ware,  we  read,  "  Cltan 
Mticfonciibar  [i.e.  O'Connor]  Bishop  of 
Ardbmccaii,  collected  the  Miracles  {if  St. 
Jlrigid  into  one  volume  in  alphabetical 
order,  from  whence  an  anonymous  author, 
~i.'!:o  7(77?  ///,'  lif<:  cf  that  rir^in  in  Terse  hath 
taken  occasion  to  preface  his  Poem  with 
these  lines  : — 


Scnpscrnnt  vinlti  -'irttttcs  inrginis  almce, 


Ultanus  Doctor,  uttiue  Eleranus 


Desoipsit  vntltos  Animosus  nomine  libros. 


•  vita  Hi  slitdus  nr^inis  ac  mentis. 


ns  vrtues  many  writers  paint, 


Ullan  the  Sage  and  Eleran  the  Saint  ; 


immortal    works 


pay 


The  life    and    merits  of   the    spotless 

maid." 

—  Vol.  ii.  "Writers  of  Ireland,"  book  i., 
chap,  iv.,  p.  30. 

'-'  Stated  to  have  commenced  with  the 
words:  "  Audite  Virginis  laudes."  To  it, 
allusion  has  been  already  made. 

"7  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,''  pp.  527  to 

545- 

-8  See  Ur.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  268,  269  and  n. 
(d),  ibid.  In  the  "  Chronicum  Scotorum," 
edited  by  William  M.  Hennessy,  his  death 
is  placed  at  A.D.  653,  which  is  tlie  year  657, 
according  to  O'Flaherty.  Sec,  pp.  94,  95, 
and  n.  7,  by  the  editor. 


-'  See  his  Life  at  the  291!)  of  December. 

'°  See  Sir  fames  Ware,  "  De  Scriptoribus 
Iliberni.e,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  \>.  2~J. 

:'1  See  l.'ssher,  "  De  I'riinordiis  Britanni- 
carum  Ecclesiarum,"  p.  1007. 

'-'See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Sexta  Vita  S.  Biigid;i>,  n.  6,  p.  598,  and 
Appendix  Tertia  ad  Acta  S.  Brigida.',  pp. 
609,  610.  This  seems  to  confound  him  witli 
St.  Aircr.ni  or  Lrerau  of  Tyfarnhani  in 
Westmeath. 

•»  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,''  vol.  i.,  pp.  276,  277. 

•u  See  hi.  Life  at  the  2u.th  of  July. 

'•'=  Tliis  has  been  edited  by  Father  John 
1'oland,  ia  "Ada  Sanctorum  Februarii," 
tomus  i.  Vila  iii.  S.  JJrigidix-,  vir.;.,  pp. 
141  to  155. 

"J  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga.''  Sexta 
Vita  S.  llrigida1,  pp.  582  to  590. 

]~  A  manuscript  copy  of  this  metrical  life, 
kindly  presented  by  William  Eassie,  Esq., 
High  Orchard  House,  Gloucester,  England, 
is  in  the  writer's  possession. 

;S  See  ibid.,  nn.   1,2,  3,  pp.  596  to  598. 

0  In  a  prologue,  prefixed  to  St.  Coe- 
lan's  m.'.rical  life,  and  published  by  Colgan, 
allusion  is  made  to  the  three  last  named 
writers  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts.  See  "Trias 
Thaumaturga."  Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  p. 
582. 
4J  Sec  ibid.  Vita  (Juarta  S.  Brigidre,  n. 

i.  P-  5°3- 

-*'  An  English  Benedictine.  He  died 
about  1149.  Besides  St.  Brigid's  life,  lie 
wrote  a  Scriptural  history,  in  Nine  Books 
and  in  Latin  elegiac  verses.  It  bore  the 
title  of  "  Hypognosticon."  He  also  com- 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRTGTD. 


said  to  have  composed  St.  Brigid's  biography,  about  the  year  1150,  and  in  a 
superior  style  of  Latinity,  not  commonly  attempted  during  that  age  in  which 
he  lived.42 

The  most  complete  series  of  St.  Brigid's  ancient  Acts  has  been  already 
published  by  our  national  hagiographer,  Father  John  Colgan. 43  These  Acts 
he  has  admirably  arranged  and  annotated.  With  certain  modifications  of 
opinion  and  comment,  we  shall  briefly  review  them  in  his  order.44 

The  first  of  Colgan's  Brigidine  Lives  is  that  Irish  poem,  ascribed  to  St. 
Brogan45  of  Rosstuirc,  in  Ossory.46  This,  according  to  one  inference,  had 
been  written  about  the  beginning  of  the  sixth  century,47  soon  after  St. 
Brigid's  death,  if  we  credit  the  scholiast's  statement.43  However,  if  St. 
Ultan4^  of  Ardbraccan  advised  Brogan  to  compose  it — as  the  same  authority 
states — its  production  is  thought  to  be  more  properly  referable  to  the  seventh 
century.50  The  second  is  her  life,  by  Cogitosus,51  who  is  incorrectly  consi 
dered  to  have  been  a  nephew  and  contemporary  of  the  holy  Virgin.52  It 
would  appear,  even  from  a  passage  in  the  Prologue  to  this  Life,53  how  that 
Prelate  of  Kildare,  at  the  time  its  author  wrote,  was  Archbishop  over  the 
Leinster  province,54  while  many  bishops  had  preceded  him  in  rule,  since  this 
See  of  Kildare  had  been  first  ruled  by  Conlaeth.55  That  this  work  had  been 
written,  before  the  removal  took  place  of  St.  Brigid's  relics  to  Down,56  and 


posed  "Consolatio  pro  morte  Amici,"  in 
Latin  verse,  with  some  other  poetical  pieces. 
.See  S.  Austin  Allibone's  "  Critical  Dic 
tionary  of  English  Literature,"  &c.,  vol.  ii., 
p.  1064. 

42  Colgan  has   published   it,    as  the   fifth 
among  his  acts   of  St.    Brigid.     In   an  ap 
pended  note,  the  editor  states,  this   author 
died  about  A.D.  1160.      See   "Trias   Thau 
maturga,  "  p.  639. 

43  No  less  than  six  different  Lives  of  St. 
Brigid    has    he    comprised    in    the     "Trias 
Thaumaturga, "  extending  from  p.  513  to  p. 
598.     Then  follow   five   elaborate    Appen 
dices,  and  an  Epilogue,   specially  referring 
to   this  Virgin's   Acts,    pp.   599  to  640.     A 
Summary  of  her  Acts  is  likewise  given,   pp. 
654  to  658,  besides  other  allusions  to  her, 
in  the  general  Indices. 

44  It  will  be  understood,  that  when  subse 
quently  alluding  to  the  numerical   order  of 
St.  Brigid's  Lives,  we  are  referring  solely  to 
Colgan's  arrangement. 

45  Most  likely,  it  is  said,  this  Poem  of  his 
had  been  written  as  an  Elegy,   immediately 
on    receipt    of    intelligence,     regarding    St. 
Brigid's  death. 

46  Near  Slieve  Bloom  Mountains. 

"7  He  is  said  to  have  composed  it  in  the 
time  of  Oilill,  or  Ailikl,  son  of  Dulaing, 
King  of  Leinster,  and  whose  deach  is  re 
corded  in  Dr.  O' Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Eour  Masters,"  at  A.D.  526.  Vol.  i.,  pp. 
174,  175- 

48  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidne.  Prrefacio  Veteris 
Anonymi,  p.  515.  Her  death  is  usually 
placed  between  the  years  518  and  525,  by 
the  greater  number  of  those,  who  have 
written  her  Acts. 


49  According  to  Ussher,  he  died  A.D.  657. 
See    "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Anliqui- 
tates."     Index  Chronologicus,  p.  539. 

50  Ultan    is    placed    in    that    age,    by  Sir 
James     Ware.        See      "  DC     Scriptoribus 
Hibernise."     Lib.  i.  cap.  iii.,  pp.  22,  23. 

51  Canisius    had    previously    published    a 
version    of    it    in     "  Antiquie    Lectiones." 
Tomus  v. 

52  By  Messingham,   who    has    given    this 
Life  a  place  in  "  Florilegium  Insult  Sanc 
torum." 

5J  The  version  of  St.  Brigid's  Life,  by 
Cogitosus,  which  Colgan  has  published,  was 
prepared  especially  from  a  Manuscript  be 
longing  to  the  Monastery  of  St.  Hubert, 
and  from  a  Codex  belonging  to  the  Monas 
tery  of  St.  Amand — both  houses  probably 
were  situated  in  Belgium  or  Northern 
France.  The  version,  issued  by  Canisius 
and  Messingham,  Colgan  found  to  be  very  full 
of  errors,  and  therefore  he  corrected  several, 
especially  using  the  St.  Amand  copy, 
although  he  did  not  quite  restore  the  text  to 
his  perfect  satisfaction.  He  also  subdivided 
the  Life  into  a  more  convenient  number  of 
chapters,  than  he  had  previously  found 
existing. 

54  From  the  following  passage  in  a  Pro 
logue  to  this  Life,  we  read  :  "  Quam  sem 
per  Archiepiscopus  Hiberniensium  Episco- 
porum,  et  Abbatissa,  quam  omnes  Abbatissse 
Scotorum  venerantur,  felici  successione,  et 
ritu  perpetuo  dominantur." — Cogitosus'  or 
"Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,"  p.  516. 

53  His  Festival  occurs  at  the  3rd  of  May. 
3'J  This    transfer    happened,    in    Colgan's 

opinion,  before  or  about  the  middle  of  the 
ninth  century.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
n.  14,  pp.  565,  566. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


before  those  ravage?."  caused  by  the  Danes — or  even  by  Irish  princes53 — in 
Kildare,  cannot  be  disputed.5?  Various  manuscript  copies  of  Cogitosus' 
work60  have  been  preserved  in  different  libraries.61  Not  the  least  allusion 
occurs  in  it  to  Kildare's  having  been  ever  destroyed,  or  to  the  spoliation  of 
St.  Brigid's  and  St.  ConlaetlVs  shrines,  which  he  represents  as  being  very 
splendid  and  very  rich.  From  his  statement,  likewise,  that  the  city  of  Kil 
dare  and  its  suburbs  were  places  of  safety  and  refuge,  in  which  there  could 
not  be  the  least  apprehension  of  any  hostile  attack,62  the  canons  of  historic 
criticism  seem  to  place  the  authorship  of  this  tract,  at  some  time  before  the 
commencement  of  the  ninth  century. 

The  Third  Life  of  St.  Brigid.  as  published  by  Colgan,  is  attributed  to  St. 
Ultan  of  Ardbraccan  by  the  editor ;  although  such  a  supposition  has  been 
contravened  by  other  judicious  critics.  On  the  authority  of  some  false 
genealogies,  it  is  thought  St.  frigid  was  sister  to  St.  Ultan  of  Arc!  P>reccain. 
It  was  this  Ultan,  who,  according  to  another  statement,  collected  the  virtues 
and  miracles  of  Brighit  together,  and  who  commanded  his  disciple  Brogan  to 
put  them  into  poetry.63  This  is  said  to  be  evident  from  the  Book  of  Hymns, 
i.e.  "  The  victorious''-*  Brighit  did  not  love.''  ovc.  While  comparing  the 
Third  with  the  First.  Second,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,"5  it  will 
be  found,  that  many  particulars  there  related  concerning  her  are  not  con 
tained  in  those  last-mentioned  tracts.66  Again,  the  number  of  divisions  it 


7  Thc^c  are  not  known  to  have  commen 
ced,  before  the  ninth  reiitury,  and  the  first 
ivcord  of  the  foreigners  having  plundered 
rmd  burned  Kildare  is  referred  to  A.D.  835 
in  Dr.  (>'  Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  i..  pp.  452,  45;,. 

-'*  In  831,  Kil  Lire  was  plundered  by 
Ceallaeh,  sun  of  Bran,  and  again  in  855  by 

" 


Feidhlimidh.      See  Dr.  O'  Donovan's 

nals  of  the  Four  Masters,1'  vol.  i.,  pp.  446, 

£,;-,  452.  45;. 

?/  In  his  notes  to  the  foregoing  passage, 
Colgan  remark^,  it  is  not  to  be  understood, 
the  bishop  of  Kildare  was  Archbishop  over 
nil  Ireland,  but  that  he  only  presided  over 
the  Leiiister  province.  Nor  did  Kildare 
always  claim  the  dignity  of  being  a  Metro 
politan  See.  For,  St.  F'iech,  bishop  of 
Hetty,  St.  Patrick's  disciple,  at  a  previous 
period,  was  styled  Archbishop  of  I.<jin>ter. 
This  Colgan  intended  to  show,  in  his  Acts, 
•which  were  to  have  been  published,  at  the 
I  2th  of  (  >ctober.  After  his  time,  the  metro- 
political  seat  is  said  to  have  been  translated 
from  Sletty  to  Kildare.  This  seems  to  be 
manifest  from  the  foregoing  passage.  F'rom 
Kildare  it  passed  ;  Ferns,  as  asserted  in 
notes  to  the  Life  of  St.  Maidoc,  at  the  3ist 
of  January,  and  as  promised  to  be  shown, 
in  those,  to  be  attached  to  St.  Moling's 
Life,  at  the  Ijtli  of  June,  as  also  to  St. 
Molua's  Acts,  at  the  4th  of  August. 
Thence  it  afterwards  returned  to  Kildare. 
See  Ussher's  "  Bi  itannicarum  Lcclesiarum 
Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  449. 

60  From  MSS-.  Cameracen.  \\ibling.  Tre- 
vcrens.,  it  has  been  printed  in  the  Bollandists' 
"  Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii  i., 
Vita  ii.  S.  Brigidae,  pp.  135  to  141.  It  was 


edited  from  a  MS.,  belonging  to  Preudhome, 
a  Canon  of  Arras,  collated  also  with  MSS. 
belonging  to  "  Monasteriorum  S.  Maximini, 
T revcri>,  \Viblingensis  in  Suevia,  Bodicensis 
in  Westphalia,  cumque  e ditimibus  Cani^ii  e 
MS.  Aistadiano,  ct  foannis  Colgani  ex 
MSS.  S.  Ilubrrtiet  S.  Amandi." 

61  Among  these  may  be  noticed  :  Vita 
S.  Brigida-,  MS.  Bod  I.'.  Fell.  }  ff.  108  116 
b.  veil,  fol  xi.  cent.  Also  MS.  Bil.l.  Valli- 
cellan.  ap.  Roniam.,  Tom.  xxi.,  If.  203-207, 
fol.  veil.  xi.  cent. 

b-'  Thus  he  writes  "  nullus  carnalis  adver 
saries,  nee  concursus  timetur  hostium."  See 
Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigida\  cap.  xxxv.,  p.  524, 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

6)  Could  we  only  trust  imp'icitly  this 
statement  of  the  O'Clery's  Calendar,  St. 
Ultan's  or  St.  Brogan's  Life  of  St.  Brigid 
must  be  the  most  authentic  and  valuable  of 
all  her  biographies. 

°4  In  a  note  by  Dr.  Todd,  he  says,  at  this 
passage,  "This  is  the  first  line  of  the  metri 
cal  life  of  St.  Brigid,  published  from  the 
Book  of  Hymns,  by  Colgan  ;  Tnas  77iaittn., 
p.  515." 

°-~  In  Colgan's  work,  where  such  differ 
ences  may  be  noticed. 

66  Dr.  Lanigan  writes  in  his  "Ecclesias 
tical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii., 
§  iii.,  n.  38,  p.  388.  "This  Life  was,  I 
suspect,  patched  up  in  the  diocese  of  Ardagh, 
and  very  probably  in  an  island  of  Lough 
Kie  called  the  Island  of  All  Saints,  in  which 
Augustin  Magraiden  lived,  who,  having 
compiled  Lives  of  Irish  Saints,  died  A.D. 
1405  (Ware's  Writers).  Colgan  got  one  of 
his  copies  ot  it  from  the  monastery  of  that 
place." 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGW. 


comprises  exceed  those  in  the  Fourth  Life,  by  about  twenty-three  chapters.6? 
Its  excess  seems  established  in  point  of  matter,  if  not  in  regard  to  substantial 
accuracy.  Colgan  was  indebted  to  Father  Stephen  White63  for  the  reception 
of  that  MS. — published  afterwards  as  the  Third-  Life6'J — with  other  erudite 
communications.  White  thought,  that  the  author  of  this  Third  life  must 
have  been  either  St.  Virgil, 7°  or  St.  Erard,71  who  were  Irishmen.72  This 
Ratisbonne  MS.,  we  are  told,  had  been  written  in  Irish  characters,  and  as 
supposed,  in  the  tenth  or  eleventh  century.73  A  fifth  MS.  copy  of  the 
Third  Life  was  extant.74  The  editor  of  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life,  however, 
could  not  agree  with  Stephen  White,  that  its  authorship  was  attributable  to 
either  of  the  Saints  named  by  him.75  The  Bollandists76  have  published  the 
Life  of  our  Saint  attributed  to  St.  Ultan,  from  a  manuscript  codex,  belonging 
to  the  Church  of  St.  Omer.  Some  manuscript  copies  of  it  are  yet  preserved 
at  Oxford.77  That  St.  Ultan  wrote  the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid,  is  asserted  by 
Colgan,  on  authority  of  Ussher,73  Ware,™  an  author  of  her  life  in  Irish,  and  a 
certain  Scholiast.80  The  editor  also  maintains,  that  the  life  written  was 
identical  with  that  published  by  him,81  owing  to  the  probability  of  some 
metrical  lines  appended  being  composed  by  the  same  author.c-  In  the  St. 


°7  This  is  Colgan's  statement.  Yet,  it 
must  refer,  not  to  the  relative  numerical 
divisions  of  chapters,  but  to  additional  mat 
ter  in  the  Third  Life. 

68  This   learned    Irish    Jesuit    was    well 
versed  in  the  Antiquities  of  his  native  coun 
try. 

69  The    original    manuscript    was    an    old 
codex,   belonging  to   the  monastery  of   St. 
Magnus,    at   Ratisbonn,    in   Bavaria.     This 
tract     Colgan    accompanied    with    various 
marginal  annotations  and  readings.     These 
were  partly  taken  from  a  M.S.,  belonging  to 
the  monastery  of  St.  Autbert,   at  Cambray, 
and  partly  from  a   MS.,    preserved   at   the 
Island  of  all  Saints,  in  Ireland.     The  Cam- 
bray  MS.  had  been  furnished  by  D-  Georgeus 
Colvenerius,   who  was  distinguished  for  his 
research  and  love  of  antiquities  ;  and  beside; 
the  All  Saints'  MS.,  received  from  Longford 
County  in  Ireland,  Colgan  obtained  another 
MS.    from    the    Carthusian    collection    at 
Cologne. 

"°  His  Festival  occurs  on  the  271)1  of 
November. 

71  His  Feast  is  assigned  to  the  Sth  of 
January. 

?2  These  flourished  in  Bavaria,  during  tl it- 
eighth  century. 

"  The  Trinity  College  Manuscript  classed 
E.  4,  10  contains,  "Vita  et  Legenda  S. 
Brigidrc  Virginis."  Ussher  supposes  this 
to  have  been  the  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  written 
by  St.  Ultan  of  Ardbraccan.  It  includes, 
also,  various  readings  on. the  margins,  copied 
from  a  more  copious  old  MS.,  belonging  to 
the  monastery  of  St.  Magnus,  tenanted  by 
the  Canons  regular  of  St.  Augustine,  at 
Ratisbon  in  Bavaria. 

"4  This  belonged  to  Dunensis  monastery 
in  Flanders.  Colgan  adds,  that  we  may 
fairly  infer  the  author  must  have  lived  at  a 


very  remote  period,  when  most  of  the  copies 
known  had  been  traced  more  than  five  hun 
dred  years  before  his  own  time,  while  some 
were  more  than  seven  hundred  years  old. 

75  Colgan's  reason  is  chiefly  a  negative 
one,  ?'!•:.,  because  no  writer  or  author  had 
heretofore  stated  his  having  compiled  her 
biography. 

'JSee  '''Ada  Sanctorum,"  tomus  L, 
Febraarii  i.,  Vita  1'rima  Brigidre,  pp.  nS 
to  135. 

"7  Among  these  arc:  \ita  S.  Brigiclse, 
MS.  Bodl.  Rawl.,  B.  505,  pp.  193-207,  fol. 
veil.  xiv.  cent.  A  similar  life  in  MS.  Bodl. 
Rawl.,  B.  485,  f.  134,  veil.  4to.  xiv.  cent., 
is  extant. 

78  See  "  De  Primordiis  Ecclesiarum  Bri- 
tannicarum,"  p.  1067. 

;->  See  "  De  Scriptoribus  Ilibernice,"  lib. 
i.,  cap.  iii.,  pp.  22,  23. 

"'-'  While  it  is  admitted,  by  Dr.  Lanigan, 
that  Ultan  of  Ardbraccan  wrote  something 
concerning  St.  Brigid,  this  learned  historian 
will  not  allow  either  him  or  any  other  wri 
ter  of  the  seventh  century,  to  have  recorded 
the  many  strange  fables,  with  which  it  is 
crammed.  This  work  he  designates  as  "a 
hodge-podge,  made  up  at  a  late  period,  in 
which  it  is  difficult  to  pick  out  any  truth, 
from  amidst  a  heap  of  rubbish."  It  also 
differs  from  the  two  former  tracts,  in  some 
material  points.  See  "  Lcclesiastical  His 
tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i. ,  chap,  viii.,  §  n, 
n.  18,  p.  380. 

Sl  This  conclusion  is  supposed  to  be  fur 
ther  warranted,  by  the  usual  clause,  "Ex 
plicit  Vita  S.  Brigickx',"  postfixed  to  the  life 
of  a  Saint  coming  after,  and  not  before  that 
Hymn,  found  in  the  St.  Magnus  MS.,  as 
written  many  ages  before  Colgan's  time. 

s-  In  the  opinion  of  White,  Colvenerius 
and  Ward. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGW. 


Autbert  MS.,  the  Life  comes  after  a  "carmen/"33  which  follows  the  Hymn. 
Although  the  author  does  not  give  us  his  name,  he  nevertheless  reveals  him 
self  as  being  from  the  Island  Hibernia,  and  of  Irish  origin.-^  After  the  last 
words,  in  a  life  of  our  sainted  Virgin,  the  author  first  places  her  proper 
Latin  Hymiv5  and  then  having  completed  the  Latin  lines,  he  pours  forth 
prayers  to  St.  Erigid — thus  piously  invoking  her  intercession,  in  the  Irish 
idiom  and  character.  These  circumstances  are  somewhat  remarkable.86 
That  St.  Ultan  was  its  author,  and  consequently  composer  of  the  Third  Life, 
seems  to  be  established,8?  from  certain  remarks  of  an  old  Scholiast, ^  on  the 
same  Hymn.  Lven  although  the  Scholiast  doubts,  whether  St.  Xennidius, 
St.  Fiech,  or  St.  L'ltan,  be  its  author,  his  very  words  are  thought  conclusive, 
in  showing  this  latter  to  be  the  writer,  both  of  the  Life  and  of  the  Hymn  ; 
since,  he  is  said  to  have  composed  both  one  and  the  other,  in  praise  of  St. 


1  ;  This  piece  is  headed  "Carmen  do 
eadem  (Scil.  S.  I'.rigida)  ex  MSS.  Autberti." 
Its  lines  are  in  Latin,  ot  which  we  present 
the  following  English  vcrv -r.i  :  — 


]!rigid's  great  name,  our  love  with  light 
entwines. 

A  Virgin  of  the  Lord,  without,  within, 

i'urc  was  her  soul,  preserved  from  stains 
of  sin. 

A  Virgin  of  the  Lord,  dear   brethren,  she 

1  )ead  to  the  world  and  pride,  for  Heaven 
was  free. 

Despised  she  Heeling  honours,  wealth  and 
pleasures, 

She  .sought  eternal  joys,  exhaustless  trea 
sures. 

Then  shield  us  from  that  future  fate  we 
dread, 

When  the  l.i^t  Trumpet  wakes  the  buried 
dead, 

0  Virgin,  loved  by  God,  bless'd  and  be 
nign, 

O  hear  thy  clients'  prayers,  nor  cease  to 
oii'er  thine." 

See  Colgan's  "Tria;  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia 
Vita  S.  lingid.e,  p.  542,  and  nn.  Sj,  85, 
p.  545,  li'i.L 

h4  This  is  indicated,  in  the  fn>t  line. 
Colgan  says,  the  Hymn  which  he  published 
was  found  in  that  IrUh  -MS.,  commonly 
called  the  Lcabhur  Jsinann,  and  in  Latin, 
"  Liber  Hymnorum, ''  by  our  national  anti 
quaries.  In  this  MS.  were  also  contained 
many  Hymns,  composed  by  different  Irs:i 
Saints.  From  it,  Colgan  obtaine  i  the  1:  -t 
line,  which  was  wanting  in  the  St.  Magnus 
MS. 

*-•  It  has  been  concluded,  that  as  no 
authority  states  St.  Xennidius  or  St.  l-'iecli 
to  have  written  St.  lirigid's  Acts  in  a  book, 
and  as  it  could  be  shown  from  written  and 
from  other  sources,  that  St.  Ultan  wrote  her 
Acts  in  one  book,  and  also  a  Hymn  in  her 
praise  ;  it  would  seem,  this  latter  mu-t  have 
been  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life, 


publi>hcd  by  Colgan,  with  the  melrical  lines 
po>tli\e  1,  and  th.it  he-  was  composer,  both 
of  the  prose  life  and  of  the  Hymn.  See 
il/iJ.,  n.  So,  p.  545. 

:0  This  metrical  composition  is  headed, 
"  Ilymnus  de  Brigida  \'irgine."  The  lines 
run  in  Latin  ;  but  we  have  ventured  to  ren 
der  them  in  the  following  Lngli-h  version:-  — 

•'Those     Signs,     \\hereby    her    wond'rous 

pow'r  was  known 
To    men,    in    our    Hibernian    Lie,    were 

shown  ; 
Excelling  through  great  virUies,   beamed 

on  earth 
The   da\vning  promise-    of   her    heavenlv 

birth. 
Not   miglity   llrigid's   fame,    this   humble 

vcr-e 

Can  fitly  celebrate,  nor  half  rehearse, 
(  Hir  X'irgin,  type  of  Mary,  myriads  found 
Lager  to   prai-c,  and  hear  her  triumphs 

sound. 
She  girt  around  her,  day  and  night,   the 

/.one 
Of  cha-te  de-ires  ;  she  read  and  prayed 

alone  ; 
She   vigil   spent  ;    as   the   bright   sun   on 

high 

Her  radiance  warm'd  the  earth,  and  hll'd 
the  sky. 

Hear  ye  the  Virgin's  praise!  her  gifts 
proclaim  ! 

The  victor's  garland  twines  around  that 
name. 

No  void  her  words  and  acts  e'er  left  be 
tween 

"Whose  vows  to  Christ  were  pledg'd  u:.d 
to  Ileav'n's  Queen. 

lie  gracious  then,  O  sainte  1  frigid,  five 

From  earthly  toils,  our  pray'rs  ascend  to 
thee  ; 

Obtain  for  us,  from  God,  of  good  the 
giver, 

Th'j  Angel's  crown  of  re 4  and  joy  for 
ever." 

"'  Tn  Colgan's  opinion. 

These  comments  are  given  in  a  note. 


TO 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID, 


Brigid,    and  both  were   contained  in  one  book.8?     Now,  it  is  not  rightly 

known,  that  St.  Ncnnidius  or  St.  Fiech  wrote  a  life  of  St.  Brigid,  whether  in 

one  tract,  or  in  more 

than  one  part.    St. 

Ultan  —  surnamed 

likewise     Mac 

Concubar  —  bishop 

of    Ardbraccan,    in 

Meath,    is   reputed 

to    have    been    St. 

Brigid's     relative,?0 

on      her     mother's 

side.?1    Ware  treats 

about  him  and  his 

writings.  92 

The  Fourth  Life 
of  our  saint,  as  pub 
lished  by  Colgan,°3 
and  by  this  latter 
writer  attributed  to 
Animosus  or  Anim- 
chad,04  is  contained 
in  two  books. 95  The 
editor  of  this  Trea 
tise  says,  the  Latin 
ized  form  of  Ani 
mosus'  name  is  not 
easily  recognisable 
as  an  Irish  one,  al 
though  its  vernacu 
lar  interpretation  be 
com  m  o  n .  T  h  i  s 
Latin  form,  how 
ever,  can  easily  be 
resolved  into  the 
name  Anmchadh  or 
Anamchodh.  This 


Kildare  Ruin? 


89  The  Scholiast  even  cites  a  portion  of 
one  line,  taken  from  this  Hymn,   and  which 
.agrees  with  what  Colgan  has  published. 

90  Ussher  writes,   that  he  was  descended 
from  the  Conchabar  or  O'Conor  family,  to 
whom  belonged,  also,  Brodsechain,  daughter 
to  Dallbronaig,  and  the  mother  of  St.  Brigid. 
This  is  given  on  the  authority  of  a  certain 
Scholiast   in   an    Irish    hymn    composed   in 
praise  of  Brigid.      Some,  however,  attribute 
this  to  St.  Columkille,  who  lived  in  the  time 
of  King  Aed,  son  to  Ainmirech  :  while  others 
ascribe  it  to  Ultan,  Bishop  of  Ardbrechan, 
who  flourished  in  the  time  of  the  two  sons 
of  Aed  Slane.      See  "  De  Primordiis  Brita- 
nicarum  Ecclesiarum. "  p.  965. 

91  Hence,  we  do  not  find  this  relationship 
shown  in  the  Pedigrees  of  St.  Brigid,  on  the 
father's  side,  as  given  by  Dr.  Todd  in  "  St. 


Patrick,  Apostle   of  Ireland,"  appendix  A, 
pp.  247  to  255. 

92  See  "  De  Scriptoribus  Hibernia;,"  lib. 
i. ,  cap.  iii. ,  pp.  22,  23. 

93  Sec  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quarta  Vita 
S.  Brigidoe,  pp.  54610563.  Appended  notes, 
pp.  563  to  566. 

94  St.   Coelan,   or  his  prologuist,   enume 
rates  Animosus,    among  various    writers  of 
St.  Brigid's  Acts.     This  is  asserted  in  the 
following  verses  : 

"  Descripsit  multos  Animosus  nomine  libros 
De  vita,   et  studiis  Virginis,   ac  meritis," 
&c. 

See  ibid.,    p.    563.     Also,  "  Sexta  Vita  S. 

Brigidse,"  p.  582. 

35  These  comprise,  with  a  Prologue,  in  the 

First  Book  52,  in  the  Second  Book  100 — 

in  all   152  chapters.     As  published  in  the 


I.TFE   OF  ST.  BRTGTD. 


IT 


has  been  applied  to  various  Irish  saints  of  the  olden  time.  To  pass  over 
others,  there  was  a  venerable  and  pious  man.  who  died  in  the  year  980. 96 
He  is  called  Anmchadh,  Bishop  of  Kildare.  This  prelate  is  said  to  have 
departed  at  an  advanced  age,  after  the  course  of  his  virtuous  life  in  this 
world  had  been  completed. ^7  It  has  been  maintained,93  that  until  some  other 
fairer  objections  be  advanced,  these  following  reasons  should  lead  us  to  con 
clude,  this  Anmchadh  or  Animosus  was  author  of  our  saint's  Fourth  Life.  In 
the  first  place,  circumstances  of  name  and  locality  favour  such  a  conclusion, 
as  no  one  could  more  appropriately  or  justly  manifest  his  reverence  and  de 
votion  towards  St.  Bridget,  than  a  native  of  Kildare,  especially  when  he  was 
either  a  prelate  or  a  monk.  As  it  is  related,  an  Animosus  wrote  St.  Brigid's 
Acts,  and  as  a  certain  prelate  of  Kildare  bore  that  name,  to  what  other  Ani 
mosus  than  he  can  we  more  probably  assign  the  performance  of  such  a  task? 
Again,  it  must  be  added,  the  author  of  this  Fourth  Lite  often  insinuates,  that 
he  was  a  monk  or  prelate  of  Kildare,  and  in  a  Prologue  to  it,  he  addresses 
certain  brethren."  It  has  been  concluded,100  there-tore,  that  he  must  have 
been  a  monk  or  an  abbot,  before  he  became  bishop  of  Kildare,101  in  accord 
ance  with  a  usage,  common  to  his  age  and  country.  In  the  next  place,  the 
author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life  indicates,  that  he  lived  so  late  as  the  tenth 
century,  at  which  period  Anmchod  of  Kildare  flourished.102  Yet,  there  are 
reasons,  also,  that  can  be  advanced  for  a  different  opinion.  The  author  of 
this  Fourth  Life  appears  to  have  written  only  two  books  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts  ; 
whereas,  Animosus  is  said  to  have  written  her  Acts  in  several  books.  This 


'•  Trias  Thaumaturga, "  however,  22  of  these 
chapters  are  wanting  in  the  I- irst  Book.  See 
"  Ouarta  Vita  S.  Brigida-,"  III),  i.  p.  547. 

'-•''  See  O'Donovan's  '•  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  ii. ,  pp.  712,  "i;v  The  e  litor 
corrects  the  date  980  by  the  words,  "[nr/t- 
<jM.J"  See  aKo  n.  (y),  //'/,/. 

'-•'  Colon's  Copy  of  the  Four  Masters  add*, 
that  he  died  "  in  loco,  que  Kenntar  appella- 
Uir.''  The  latter  clause  seems  to  he  omitted 
in  Mr.  O'Doiiovan's  copy.  "(  (nines  fere 
Hibernia-  pr.vlati  ex  Mouaehis  assumeban- 
tur."  Ser  Giraldus  Cambrcnsis,  Opera, 
vol.  v.  ''  Topographia  1 1  ibernica,  Dist.  iii., 
cap.  x\ix.  Edition  by  James  F.  Dimock, 
M.A. 

^  By  Colgan.  The  town  of  Kildare  has 
yet  many  interesting  vestiges  of  its  former 
religious  establishments.  The  accompany 
ing  engraving,  which  represents  one  of  these 
ruins,  has  been  executed  by  Mrs.  Millard, 
from  a  photograph  of  Frederick  \V.  Mare-, 
Dublin. 

w  This  Preface  runs  as  follows:  "  My 
mind,  brethren,  is  filled  with  three  emotion--, 
viz.,  of  love,  of  shame,  and  of  fear.  Love 
urges  me  to  write  in  documents  a  life  of  the 
illustrious  Brigid,  lest  that  great  abundance 
of  virtues,  which  God's  grace  conferred  on 
her,  or  the  many  miracles  accomplished 
through  her,  should  be  hidden  and  unheard. 
I  feel  prevented  through  shame,  lest,  as  I 
suppose,  my  very  plain  discourse  or  poor 
judgment,  maydisplease  my  educated  readers 
or  hearers.  Yet,  my  fear  is  still  greater,  for 
my  weakness  of  mind  in  the  composition  of 


such  a  work  presents  a  danger  :  since,  I  dread 
the  taunts  of  critics  and  enemies  tasting  my 
very  small  intellectual  viands.  Hut,  as  the 
l,..;"-d  ordered  His  poor  to  offer  little  gifts, 
when  abniu  to  build  Ilis  tabernacle,  ought 
\\eiiut  give  ours  to  build  up  His  church  ? 
What  is  she  but  a  congregation  of  the  just  ? 
How  is  a  prudent  life  formed,  unless  through 
the  examples  and  records  of  the  prudent? 
Therefore  -hall  I  give  a  lir-t  place  to  love,  I 
shall  trample  on  shame,  and  I  shall  tolerate 
the  carpers.  I  adjure  you,  O  wise  reader 
and  intelligent  hearer,  that  you  overlook  the 
text  arrangement  ;  and  consider  only  the 
miracles  of  God  and  of  His  blessed  hand 
maid.  Indeed,  every  husbandman  should 
be  fed  on  the  fruits  drawn  Irom  the  furrows 
of  his  own  held." 

1  °  l!y  Colgan. 

IJI  The  "  Vita  S.  Brigida-,"  by  an  anony 
mous  author,  and  Irom  a  Manuscript  belong 
ing  to  Hugh  Ward,  has  been  printed  by 
Father  John  Boland  in  the  "  Acta  Sancto 
rum,"  tomus  i,  Februarii  i.  Vita  iv., 
Fipartita  S.  Brigido-,  pp.  155  to  172.  Usher 
oft 'Mi  cites  it  as  the  anonymous  or  inedited 
Life  in  two  books.  The  author  lived  before 
1152.  See  Sir  Thomas  Duffus  Hardy's 
"  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Materials  relating 
to  the  Historyol  Great  Britain  and  Ireland," 
vol.  i.,  part  i. ,  pp.  108,  109.  The  writer 
is  supposed  to  be  Animosus,  by  Colgan. 

'"-;  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Quarta  Vita  "S.  Brigida',  n.  i.,  pp.  563. 
Also,  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  ii.,  "  Writers  of 
Ireland,"  Book  i.,  chap,  iv.,  p.  37. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID, 


occurred,  before  the  time  in  v.-liich  St.  Coelan,  or  at  least  the  author  of  that 
prologue  to  his  metrical  acts  of  our  saint,  wrote.  No\v,  Colgan  thinks  St. 
Coelan  wrote  St.  Brigid's  Acts  previous  to  A.D.  8oo'°3  In  such  hypothesis, 
it  is  supposed,  that  Animosus,  who  wrote  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  must  be  distin 
guished  from  Animosus  or  Animchadh,  who  died  A.D.  980.  Again,  the  Irish 
word,  Anmire,  seems  to  have  an  identical  meaning  with  Animosus.  At  least 
four  Anmires  are  enumerated  among  the  saints  of  Ireland  :  T.  Anmire  of 
Alech,10-*  2.  Anmire  of  Cluanfoda,105  3.  Anmire  of  Ros-hua  Chonna,106  4. 
Anmire  of  Rath-nuadha,10?  It  may  be  argued,  that  some  one  of  the  forego 
ing,  or  another  person,  bearing  the  same  name,  different  from  the  Animchod, 
who  died  in  980.  had  been  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts.  The  matter  re 
mains,  not  yet  fully  determined.  But  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life, 
whoever  he  may  be,  is  deemed  trustworthy.103  Although  he  flourished  at  a 
comparatively  late  period,  and  wrote  in  a  rude  style,  his  Acts  relate,  in  a  more 
copious  and  comprehensive  manner,  than  any  other  writer's,  almost  all  St. 
Brigid'' s  transactions.  Also,  he  gives  many  particulars,  concerning  the  anti 
quities  of  Ireland,  which,  for  the  most  part,  are  either  omitted  or  obscurely 
related,  by  other  biographers. I09  The  Fifth  of  St.  Brigid's  Lives,  as  published 
by  Colgan,  was  taken  from  a  Manuscript  belonging  to  the  Irish  College  at 
Salamanca110  Although  containing  fewer  Acts  and  miracles  of  St.  Brigid, 
than  most  of  her  other  Lives  ;  yet,  this  biography,  making  allowance  for 
many  fables,111  surpasses  most  of  them  in  elegance  and  correctness  of  style, 
as  also  in  its  more  systematic  and  complete  arrangement.112  For  these 
reasons,  it  seems  more  suited  for  reading  in  the  refectories  of  religious  com 
munities.  It  came  into  Colgan's  hands,  in  an  imperfect  state;1'3  yet,  he 
thought,  that  not  more  than  the  first,  and  a  part  of  its  second  chapter,  had 
been  wanting.114  The  editor  endeavoured  to  supply  such  missing  portions 
in  that  distinctive  character,  known  as  the  Italic  ;  while  special  titles  are  pre 
fixed  by  him  to  the  several  chapters,  and  placed  in  the  margin.  He  thinks 
there  can  be  no  question  about  the  author  being  Laurence  of  Durham. ";; 
This,  it  is  supposed,  can  be  shown,  from  the  elegant  style,  nationality  of 
authorship,  and  the  period,  in  which  it  had  been  written  ;  for,  in  the  second 
chapter,  its  author  indicates  his  being  an  Englishman,  and  that  he  composed 
this  life,  after  the  Normans  came  to  England.  He  likewise  wrote  it  before 
the  Anglo-Norman  invasion  of  Ireland.  Now,  as  he  flourished  after  the  year 
1065 — -1'6  about  which  date  the  Norman  conquest  of  England  commenced — 

103  This  he  endeavours  to  show,  in  his  notes       to  185. 

to  "Sexta  Vita  S.  Bngido.-,"  mi.  I,  2,  3,  pp.  IIj  As  this  Manuscript  was  acephalous,  its 

596  to  598,  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  author's  name  had  not  been  found  prefixed. 

104  His  feast  is  celebrated  on  the  loth  of  "•*  The  following  MSS.  conies  of  this  life 
June.  are  exlant  :  Vita   S.    Brigidiv,    auctore  Lau- 

105  This  saint   is    commemorated    on    the  rentio     Dunelmensi,     MS.     Salmanticensis, 
1 5th  of  September.  published  by  Colgan  and  Bollandus.      JJefi- 

l(':>  His  festival  occurs  on  the  25th  of  Sep-  ciencies  in  this  may  be  supplied  from  the 

tember.  following  copies  in  Latin  :  Vita  S.  Brigittae 

In7  This  saint's  feast  is  held  on  the  2oth  of  Virginis  a  Latirentio  Dunelmensi.  MS. 

November.  Bodl.  Laud.  Mis.  668  (1052)  106.  veil.  410 

03  Such  is  Colgan's  expressed  opinion.  XII.  cent.  Again,  S.  Briguke  Vita  per  Lau- 

I05  So  far  as  came  under  Colgan's  observa-  rentium  Dunelmensem,  proevia  Epistola  ad 

lion.  Kthelredum  Dispensatorem.  MS.  Coll. 

"°  Therefore  it  is  called  by  him  the  Sala-  Balliol.  ccxxvi.  f.  86-94.  veil.  fol.  dble.  eol. 

mancan  Manuscript.  XIII.  cent.  Tanner  refers  to  both  of  these 

111  See     Dr.     Lanigan's     "Ecclesiastical  copies  in  his  "  Bibliothcca,"  p.  472. 
History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,   viii.,  sec.  1!^  This  writer  is  known  to  have  flourished 
ii.,  n.  18.,  p.    381.  about  the  year  1140,   and  he  wrote  a  singu- 

112  This  Life  has  been  printed  in  the  Bol-  larly  learned  and  eloquent  Life  of  St.  Brigid 
lanclists'  "  Aela  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  Feb-  complete,  in  one  book. 

niarii  i.,   Vita  v.,  S.  Brigidie  Virg.  pp.  172  "6  Dr.  Lingard  assigns  the  battle  of  Hast- 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


and  prior  to  the  1171.""  when  the  English  invasion  of  Ireland  began  ;  it 
appears  probable  enough,  that  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fifth  Life  must  have 
been  the  aforesaid  Laurence  of  Durham.  The  Sixth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"8  is 
along  poem,  written  in  Latin  Hexameter  verse.  The  editor  supposes  St. 
Cholian  or  Coelan,  a  monk  of  Inis-Keltra  monastery,  on  the  Shannon,  to 
have  been  its  author.11 '  It  was  published  from  an  old  Manuscript,  belonging 
to  the  library  of  Monte  Cussino,  and  it  had  been  collated,  with  a  copy  taken 
Irom  the  Vatican  library,  as  also  with  various  other  Manuscript  exemplars. 
In  the  first  note,  post-fixed  to  our  Saint's  Sixth  Life,  we  are  told,  that  over 
three  months  before,  when  Colgan  had  begun  passing  St.  Brigid's  Acts 
through  the  press,  he  received  from  the  Rev.  Lather  Bernard  Lgan,1-0  a  certain 
fragment  of  this  biography.1-1  A  prologue  is  prefixed,  commencing  with 
"  Fimbus  occiduis. '  CMC.  Tins  latter  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  composition 
of  St.  Donatus.1--'  IJishop  of  Fcsule.  in  Tuscany.1--5  and  who  flourished  in  the 
ninth  centurv.  But.  the  life  itself  was  marked,  as  having  been  written  by  a 
monk  of  Iniskeltra,  in  Lough  Derg,  and  who  was  named  Chihen.  This 
writer  Colgan  conjectures  to  have  been  the  same  as  Coelan  of  Iniskeltra,  who 
was  known  in  the  eighth  century. '••'  liut,  with  much  apparent  truth.1-'3  this 
fragment  has  been  referred  to  a  later  period,  in  which  it  is  suspected  ils 
author  lived.  Dr.  Lanigan  believes,  that  if  Chilieii  lived  in  the  eighth  cen 
tury,1-'1  it  must  have  been  in  the  latter  part  :  although  this  historian  does  not 
think  it  worth  while,  to  enter  upon  a  long  discussion  regarding  him.1-'? 

Having  received  this  Sixth  Life,  from  the  Cassiman  MS.,  anil  through 
the  xealous  Father  already  mentioned,  three  other  counterpart  copies  of 
these  same  Acts  were  procured.  One  copy  came  from  the  Vatican  Library, 
one  from  the  Library  of  his  Imminence  Anthony  Barberini,  and  a  third  wa^ 
sent  by  the  celebrated  Franciscan  Father,  Luke  Wadding.  All  these  copies 


ings  to  the  I4th  of  October,  A.  i>.  lot'xi.  Se\ 
"History  ot  England,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  vi.,  p. 
509. 

"'  Henry  II.  landed  at  Waterford  on  the 
iSth  of  October,  A. i>.  1171.  See  Kcv.  fohn 
(  I'llunlon's  "  Catechism  of  Irish  lli.-tury," 
Lesson  xiii.,  ]).  1  io. 

11    As  published  liy  Colgan. 

IJ'  In  1  Ian  is'  \\are,  Chaelian  or  Coelan, 
,\  monk  of  the  Abbey  of  Ini.--Keitra,  in  the 
iiiocc.>e  of  Kdlaioe,  an  1  who  \\mte  the  I. lie 
ot  St.  Bn.;id  111  verse,  is  said  to  have  been  a 
contemporary  with  .Fngus  Mac-Tiprait,  who 
died  745.  The  festival  of  this  Chiiicti  is 
assigned  to  the  291)1  ol  July  in  o'.;r  domestic 
Martyrologies. 

'•  lie  was  a  licnedicthic  Abbot  and  an 
Irishman. 

'-'  It  commences  \\ith  the.-e  ver.-es  : 
"  Quadam  forte  die  sanctus  1'atricius  alnuis 

C  lemma      sacerdotum      synodali     carmine 

scdit,''  iv.c. 

From  a  hurried  reading,  it  was  thensupposed, 
that  the  poem  in  question  began  -with  these 
lines,  anil  Colgan  stateil  as  much  in  the  com 
mon  preface  to  St.  lirigid's  Acts.  But  he 
afterwards  discovered  his  mistake,  when  this 
holy  virgin's  five  fir>t  lives  had  been  printed. 

'--  See  his  Life  at  the  22nd  of  October. 

'-1  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Quinta  Appendix  ad  Acta  S.  1'atricii,  cap. 
xx.,  p.  255. 


'  Dr.  I.anig.in  think-;,  that  t!ie  circum 
stance  of  Chilien  calling  the  mother  of  St. 
J>rigid  a  countess  seems  to  indicate  a  com 
paratively  late  period  for  this  composition. 

'•-"•Speaking  about  Donat,  Bishop  of 
Ficsolc,  who  Nourished  in  the  ninth  century, 
Harris  observes  :  "He  seems  also  to  have 
been  the  author  of  a  Description  of  Ireland, 
in  Hexameter  and  Pentameter  verse;  or 
rather  the  Life  oi  St.  Urigid,  containing  a 
Description  of  Ireland,  of  which  Colgan 
hath  given  as  a  fragment,  which  is  prefixed 
also  as  a  prologue  to  the  Life  of  St.  lirigid, 
suppo-cd  to  be  written  by  St.  Chaelan." 
See  Harris'  "Ware,  "Writers  of  Ireland,  ' 
vol.  ii.,  chap.  iv. ,  p.  47,  and  chap,  vi., 

!'•  57- 

-J  'I  his  Chilien,  whether  author  or  not  of 
both  the  prologue  and  Life — as  stated  in  his 
"Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Sexta  Vita  S. 
Hrigido:,  mi.  i,  2,  3,  p.  507 — was,  in  Col- 
gan's  opinion,  the  same  a.->  Coelan  of  hiis- 
Keltra,  who  seems  to  have  flourished  in  the 
eighth  century.  See  "  Ecclesiastical  History 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  11. 
18.,  p.  381.  ]!ut,  ISollandus  thought  him  to 
be  a  different  person.  See  *' Acta  Sancto 
rum,"  Februarii,  tomus  i.  Vita  S.  Urigida1. 
Commentaria  Prsi'via,  sec.  2. 

'•'See  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire 
land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  n,  iS,  p. 


i4  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


were  diligently  collated  by  the  editor,  who  found  them  severally  mutilated, 
worn,  abounding  in  false  emendations  of  librarians,  or  commentators,  de 
formed  with  verbal  transpositions  and  changes,  to  such  a  degree,  that  the 
sense  of  some  verses  could  not  be  discovered,  while  the  proper  number  of 
feet  and  the  requisite  syllabic  measure  were  wanting,  in  many  lines.123  Yet, 
through  the  collector's  great  industry,  who  observed  closely  the  discrepancy 
in  his  copies,  we  are  indebted  for  the  publication  of  this  old  Tract.  The 
editor  endeavoured  to  follow  authorities  he  considered  most  authentic,  in  his 
several  copies  ;  for  he  observed,  that  in  many  instances,  the  just  number  and 
measure  of  the  verse  could  be  found  in  some  particular  Manuscripts,  while  in 
others  they  were  expressed,  sometimes  by  abbreviations,  again  by  a  transpo 
sition  of  words,  and  often  by  some  closing  or  arbitrary  notation.  The  lines 
were  frequently  found  so  greatly  mutilated,  that  they  bore  a  prosaic  rather 
than  a  metrical  appearance.  So  many  omissions  and  licences  on  the 
part  of  copyists  were  detected,  that  the  editor  felt  obliged  to  affix  various 
marginal  annotations  to  this  poem.I29  Not  alone  through  the  incautiousness 
of  copyists — a  fruitful  source  of  error  in  old  documents — many  transpositions 
of  words  had  been  introduced,  and  certain  synonymous  terms  were  substituted 
for  others;  but,  besides,  many  abbreviations  of  doubtful  meaning  were  iound, 
while  these  left  the  sense  imperfect. '3°  Even  unaccountable  caprice  and 
mutilations  caused  some  of  the  chapters  to  be  acephalous  or  truncated,  while 
some  were  altogether  omitted,  as  might  be  seen  in  the  still  imperfect  and 
published  Sixth  Life.131  There  certain  lines  are  subjoined  from  the  Barberini 
Manuscript,  and  which  were  wanting  in  that  of  Monte  Cassino,  while  breaks  are 
discoverable  in  the  narrative  and  structural  course  of  the  poem.132  Although 
many  particulars  relating  to  St.  Brigid  are  found  in  the  Five  first  Lives,  as 
published  by  Colgan,  and  which  are  missing  in  the  Sixth  ;T33  yet,  the  editor  sup 
poses  this  attributable  to  no  other  cause,  than  to  the  deplorable  liberties  taken 
by  scribes  or  librarians.  Here  and  there  have  been  detected  many  elisions 
and  erasures.  It  can  scarcely  be  doubted,  that  these  manipulators  altoge 
ther  pretermitted  other  matters.  As  this  old  and  careful  writer  relates,  many 
of  St.  Brigid's  Acts  were  left  out  by  others,  and  as  it  is  indicated  in  the  Pro 
logue,  that  he  read  her  Lives  written  by  St.  Ultan,  Eleran  and  Animosus  ; 


-8  But  for  such  defects,  it  must  have  been  immediately  afterwards,  verses  were  maimed 

extremely  valuable.  in    prosodial   number   and    quantity,    while 

^I29  He  did    not    alter     the    poem   in    the  they    were   disfigured    with    blots.      Colgan 

slightest    tittle,    except  in    those   instances,  tells  us  he  published  the  poem,  as  he  found  it, 

where  noted  and  obvious  omissions  of  copy-  changing    nothing    therein,    with    only    the 

ists   had   left  discrepancies  between  certain  foregoing  exceptional  emendations, 

parts  and  lines,  or  had  so  crudely  amended  I3-  This  is  noticed  by  the  editor  in  a  great 

them,   ti.at  it  could  readily  be  conjectured  variety  of  instances. 

these   emendations    did    not    represent    the  I33  Colgan's  divisions  of  the  six  lives  are  as 

original  writer's  words.  follow,    viz.  :    First.   The  Metrical  life,   53 

30  It  was  not  possible  for  the  industry  or  stanzas  of  four  lines  each,  Irish  with  Latin 
research  of  either  collator  or  editor,  to  repair  translation.  Secondly.  The  Second  Prose 
so  many  mistakes,  or  restore  so  many  omis-  life  has  36  chapters,  with  a  prologue, 
.dons.  Wherefore,  Colgan  only  endeavoured  Thirdly.  The  Third  Prose  life  has  131  chap- 
to  place  in  due  order,  those  words  which  ters,  with  supplementary  metrical  lines, 
seemed  transposed,  in  certain  passages,  and  Fourthly.  The  Fourth  Prose  life  is  divided 
cautiously  to  substitute  others  in  place  of  into  two  books— the  first  book  containing 
certain  contracted  words,  doubtful  in  the  52  chapters,  and  the  last  IOO.  It  is  prefaced 
reading,  or  which  through  the  error  of  the  by  a  prologue.  Fifthly.  The  Fifth  Prose 
copyists  were  put  for  terms  having  a  sup-  life  comprises  58  chapters.  Sixthly.  The 
posed  affinity.  Sixth  Metrical  life  contains  68  sections— 

131  Here  and  there,   certain  elegant    and  more  or  less  imperfect— with  prefatory  and 

glowing  phrases  were  found,  especially  in  supplementary  lines, 
descriptive  and  metaphorical  passages  ;  then 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


hence,  it  cannot  be  supposed,  he  would  have  passed  over  so  many  accounts, 
faithfully  related  by  various  other  writers,  or  that  he  would  not  have  included 
several  accounts,  not  given  by  them.1--* 

The  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  published  by  Colgan,  are  not  the  only  authorities 
available  for  her  Acts.  In  the  Book  of  Lisniore,  which  had  been  written1-'5 
for  Mac  Carthy  Reagh,  or  Einghen  Mac  I  )iarmata,  and  which  is  now  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire's  property,  there  is  an  Irish  sermon  on  the  Life  of  St. 
Brigid. Ij6  This  has  been  translated  into  English,13?  transcribed,  and  collated 
with  a  similar  copy,  but  having  varied  readings,  in  the  Leabhar  Breach3 
Besides  these,  there  \\ere  many  lives  of  St.  Brigid,  written  in  the  Irish 
tongue.  Four  only  of  these,  however,  came  into  Colgan's  hands.1--'}  There 
is  scarcely  any  considerable  library  in  which  the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid  will  not 
be  found.  Her  meinorv  likewise  has  been  commemorated  by  a  Divine  Office, 
not  only  throughout  the  whole  of  Ireland,  but  even  in  many  Dioceses  of 
England,  Scotland,  Belgium,  E  ranee  and  (lermany.'40 

A  Life  of  St.  Brigid  has  been  inserted  in  the  collection  of  John  Cap- 
grave.  MI  This  is  taken  apparently  from  the  work  of  Cogitosus.142  A  certain 
anonymous  writer  edited  a  Lite  ot  St.  Bngid,  in  (ierman,  and  this  was 
printed  at  Augusta,  in  1478. '43  Another  biography  of  the  Saint  had  been 
printed'44  at  Argentine. M5  Yalentinus  Leuctius,  in  his  work,  "  De  Sanctis,''' 
has  special  reference  to  St.  Brigid.  In  addition  to  those  tracts  already 
mentioned,  Yincentius  Bellovacensis'46  wrote  a  summary  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts 
in  his  book.'4?  St.  Antoninus'43  has  also  treated  about  this  illustrious 
Virgin.'4?  Guido  de  Castris,'-J  1'etrus  de  Natalibiis,"1  John  of  Tinmouth,'52 
Sunns, '53  in  two  different  acts,1"4  Ilaneus,  Messingham,'35  Cornelius  Orasius/s6 


1  ;4  Such  is  ('norm's  expressed  opinion. 
He  supposes  such  omissions  arc  attributable 
rather  to  incompetent  commentator.-,  than  to 
the  original  author. 

'«  IJy  Aonghus  O'Calladh. 

'^  At  folio'53.  col.  2,  of  tliis  MS.,  there 
is  a  Gael  c  entry  given  in  |.  T.  Gilbert's 
''History  of  the  \'iceroys  of  Ireland,'' 
notes  to  chap,  xi.,  p.  603.  The  following 
is  an  English  translation:  "Let  everyone 
who  shall  read  this  Life  of  [Saint]  lirigid 
give  a  blessing  on  the  s,,ul.s  of  the  cuiiple  for 
whom  it  was  written." 

M7p,y  Professor  Bryan  O'l.ooney  of  the 
Catholic  University,  who  has  obligingly 
lent  his  Irish  transcript,  with  his  English 
translation,  to  the  writer. 

138  Belonging  to  the  Royal  Irish  Academy. 

*'9  As  they  contained,  for  the  must  part, 
only  particulars,  which  were  to  be  found  in 
various  Acts  published  by  him,  Co'gan 
thought  it  quite  unnecessary  to  present  more 
than  an  Irish  Hymn,  composed  by  St. 
Brogan,  with  its  Latin  version. 

140  Sec,    "Trias  Thaumaturga."     Tertia 
Vita  S.  Brigidae,  n.  7,  p.  543.     (Juarta  Vita 
S.  Brigidre,  nn.  15,  16,  p.  504,  iind.     Ouinta 
Vita  S.  Brigidie,  cap.  viii.,  ]).  569,  and  nn. 
9,  11,  p.  640,  ibid. 

141  In  his   "  Xova  Lcgcntla  Angliix:"  we 
find  "  Vita  S.  Brigidac  Virginis,"  fol.  xlix., 
1.,  li.,  Kalendas  Februarii.      See  notices  of 
this  work    and    of  the  writer   in  S.  Austin 
Allibone's  "Critical  Dictionary  of  English 
Literature,"  &c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  336. 


I4-'  Agreeing  with  it  is  the  MS.  Colt. 
TikT./L.  i.,  IT.  32-34. 

'*'•  This  was  probably  Triers,  in  Germany, 
although  many  towns  bear  a  .similar  Latin 
name. 

U4  A.I).   1506. 

145  Probably  this  was  Argentan,  in  Lower 
Normandy,  or  Argenton,  of  the  Orleannois, 
in  I-'rance. 

4'J  <  'r  Vincent  De  Beauvais,  a  French 
Dominican  savant,  who  lived  from  about 
IKJO  to  1264.  See  Laurence  E.  Phillip*' 
"  Dictionary  of  Biographical  Reference,"  p. 

937- 

47  See  "Speculum  IIistori;p,"  lib.  xxii., 
cap.  29. 

'4";  He  died  the  2nd  of  May,  A.n.  1459. 
His  feast  is  kept  on  the  loth  of  May. 

49  In  "Cronicon,"  pars,  ii.,  tit.  xii. , 
caji.  6. 

'5°  Abbot  of  St.  Denis,  who  wrote,  "  De 
Vitis  Sanctorum." 

151  Lib.  iii.,  cap.  69. 

'5'J  In  "  De  Sanctis  Britannia.1." 

155  See  "  De  Probatis  Sanctorum  Histo- 
riis,"  iVc.,  tomus  i.,  pp.  So6  to  809. 
Cologne  Edition,  A.I).  1576.  In  the  otner 
edition  I  Februarii,  pp.  19  to  25. 

154  The  first  of  these  is  comprised  in  fifteen 
paragraphs,   and   the   second    in    thirty-two 
paragraphs. 

155  See  "  Florilegium  Insulce  Sanctorum,'' 
pp.  189  to  207. 

'&  At  the  1st  of  February. 


i  •:> 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


&c    have  r>ll  made   their  respective  commemorations   of  her.     Robert   of 
Gloucester^;  wrote  a  Biography  of  this  venerable  Virgin,  and  some  mam- 
script  copies  of  it  are  preserved."8     The  Right  Rev.  David  Rothe,  bishop 
of  Ossory,  published  a  beautiful  dissertation,  intitlcd,  "  De  Brigida  lhau: 

^Likewise,  in  the  «  Hystoric  Sanctorum,"  published  at  Louvain,^  we  have 
a  short  biography  of  this  most  pious  virgin.  In  Lippeloo  s  Collect  >ns 
the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid  arc  to  be  met  with.162  Also,  in  the  «  Breviary  of 
\berdeen,;"63  the  Life  and  Miracles  of  this  holy  virgin  are  recorded  in  six 
I  essons  l6^  In  a  Latin  translation,"*  with  additions  to  that  celebrated  work 
of  the  Spanish  Jesuit,  Father  Ribadenira  l66  the  editor  has  placed  this  lily  of 
virgins  in  his  Flower-Garden  of  the  Saints.16?  Canon  Giacomo  Certain 
has  written  her  Acts  in  Italian.'6*  Lives  of  St.  Brigid  were  published  by 
Henry  Adrian  and  Herbert  Rosweyde,1'0  in  Flemish.  A  lather  Robert 
Rochfort,  formerly  Rector  of  the  Franciscan  College  at  Louvain,  wrote  in 
English,  a  Life  of  this  illustrious  virgin.  The  Bollandists1?'  have  published 
various  acts  of  this  holy  virgin.  After  having  given  a  previous  commentary 
in  fourteen  chapters  and  one  hundred  and  fourteen  paragraphs,  with  s 
lessons  from  an  office,  their  First  Life  contains  seventeen  chapters  and  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  sections  ;  a  Second  Life  contains  eight  chapters  and 
40  sections;  a  Third  Life  in  metre  has  ten  chapters  and  seventy-two 
sections ;  a  Fourth  Life  is  in  two  Books— the  first  Book  containing  5  chap 
ters  and  55  sections— the  second  Book  12  chapters  and  82  sections  ;  while 
a  Fifth  Life  of  St.  Brigid  is  comprised  in  15  chapters  and  93  sections.1?5 


';<  He  died  about  1290.  -Sec  Laurence 
E.  Phillips'  "Dictionary  of  Biographical 
Reference,"  p.  800. 

158  Among  these  are  written  in  old  English 
a  MS.  C.C.C.  Cant.  145,  veil.  sm.  fol,  xiv. 
cent.,  apparently  by  Robert  of  Gloucester.  It 
commences  with  the  words  : — "Sain  Bride 
that  holi  maicle  of  Irlonde  was,"  &c. 
Another  copy,  with  some  differences  of 
reading,  is  a  MS.  Ashmole  43,  ff.  15-18,  b. 
veil.  8vo,  circa  A.D.  1300.  Again,  there 
is  another  old  English  Life  of  S.  Bride, 
with  an  illumination  of  the  saint  very  fairly 
executed.  It  is  classed  MS.  Bocll.  Tanner. 
17,  f.  12,  veil,  fol.,  xv.  cent.  Also,  a  MS. 
Bodl.  Laud.  Misc.  463  (1596),  ff.  6-9,  vol. 
f-)i.,  xiv.  cent.  Another  Life  of  S.  Brigid 
(old  English)  MS.  Bodl.  779  (2567),  ff.  127, 
b.  — 128  b.  paper  folio,  xv.  cent.  The  fore 
going  seem  to  be  different  copies  of  Robert 
of  Gloucester's  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  with  some 
differences  in  the  text. 

159  Nearly  all  of  these  tracts  were  issued 
in  the  Latin  language. 

160  There  occurs,    Brigida  Virgo,   at    fol. 
\\.,  xxi. 

101  See  "  Vitos  Sanctorum,"  vol.  i. 

lfc  At  the  1st  of  February,  pp.  553,  558. 

163  This  was  first  printed  in   1509.     The 
Bollanclists  have  reprinted  from  it  the  six 
Lessons   of   St.    Brigid's    Office   in    "  Acta 
Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,    Februarii  i.,   Com- 
mentarius  prcevius,  §  xv.,  p.  118. 

164  The  Breviary  of  Aberdeen  has  been 
reprinted,  under  the  Editorship  of  the  Rev. 


William   Blew,  in   two   vol.-,.,    4tc 
cols. 

I63  Published  at  Cologne,  A.  D.  1630, 
"  apud  Joanncm  Kinkium  sub  Monocerote." 
This  translation  purports  to  give  useful  notes 
and  the  festivals  of  recent  saints.  It  con 
tains  a  double  Index  of  Saints,  and  of  sub 
jects  for  preachers. 

166  In  the  second  part  of  the  Latin  version 
of  Ribadeneira's  "Flos  Sanctorum,"  &c., 
we  have  a  Life  of  St.  Bridget,  at  the  1st  of 
February,  pp.  82,  83.  See  his  biography 
in  Rees'  "Cyclopaedia,"  vol.  xxx.,  sub  i'occ 
"  Ribadcneira." 

'°7  In  the  Dublin  edition  of  an  English 
translation  of  Ribadeneira,  the  Life  oi  St. 
Brigid  is  not  found. 

'°8  He  lived  about  16/0.  See  Phillips' 
"  Dictionary  of  Biographical  Reference,"  p. 
241. 

I69  His  work,  in  a  4to  volume,  is  intituled, 
"La  Santita  Prodigiosa,  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese." 

l'°  This  celebrated  Dutch  hagiographer 
lived  from  1569  to  1629.  See  Phillips' 
"  Dictionary  of  Biographical  Reference,"  p. 
Sii. 

J':  See  Rees'  "Cyclopaedia,"  vol.  iv.,  sub 
vocc,  "  Bollanclists." 

*i-  See  "Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  i. 
Februarii,  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  pp.  99  to  185. 
In  the  Addenda  to  this  Tome  are  to  be 
found  two  paragraphs  referring  to  St.  Brigid, 
pp.  941,  942. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Aclnen  Baillet  has  written  her  Life,  in  the  French  Language,1"  and  included 

Bishop  Challoner'75  has  inserted  a  Life  of 

Brigide  or  Bride,  Virgin  and  Abbess,  at  the  ist  of  February.1?6     The 

Rev.  Alban  Butler  has_some  brief  notices  of  the  Saint  in  his  work.1"     Also, 

among  the  Irish  Cistercian  Monk's  extracts  from  the  same,  an  account  has  been 

A  very  elegantly  written  biography  of  the  Virgin  Abbess 

t  has  been  compose  1  by  the  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould.1^     Bishop  Forbes 

has  likewise  inserted  her  Aits.1"1 

Hardly  any  important  collection  of  Manuscripts  can  be  met  with,  in 
which  we  do  not  find  some  Acts  or  memorials  of  the  great  St.  Brigid.lSr 
Several  Lives  and  Hymns  relating  to  this  holy  Virgin,  and  in  the  native 
language,  are  to  be  found  among  those  Tracts,1"  contained  in  the  Royal 

Among  the  Messrs.  Hodges'  and  Smith's  Collec- 

on    of    Irish    Manuscripts    belonging   to   this    noble    national    institution, 

Another  small  quarto  paper  Manu 
script  contains  an  Irish  Life  of  this  holy  Virgin.1  •»      Besides  these,  we  find  a 
:.  Brigid,'  5  jn   this  collection  alone.     Again  we  meet 
lanuscripts— one  small,1  '  the  other  a  folio1"?— belonging  to 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  and  containing  a  Life  of  St.  Brigid  in  Irish.     The 
Library  of  Trinity  College,1      Dublin,  has  another  interesting  collection  of 
documents,  which    serves    to    illustrate    her    Acts.18?      The    Irish    Catholic 

dern   Manuscripts,  relating  to  the  Life  of 

this  \  ii-gm  Saint.     Archbishop  Marsh's  Library  furnishes  an  old  Manuscript 
Liie  ot  St.  Bngid.:         Knglish  collections,'  •'  as  among  those  of  Oxford,  Cam- 


"!  At  th  •  i,t  of  February,  in  Bailiet's 
"  Le-  \  ies  de-  Sain'.-/'  appeals  an  ace  unt 
of  St.  I'.rigid,  Virgin,  Abbc.-s  of  Kilda.e, 
ami  I'atroi:e-s  of  Ireland.  Tuine  i.,  pp. 
24  to  2(>. 

174  It  seems  slrang  •  that  an  account  of  this 
is  omifed,  when  treating  about  the  author's 
other  works  in  the  "\\c\v  ami  General 
Biographical  Dictionary,"  Aie,,  \ol.  ii.,  pp. 
24  to  27.  London,  I  7oS. 

lr;  His  Life,  written  in  F.i::;IMi  by  liis 
Vicar-General,  Jame-,  Bernard,  appeared  at 
London,  A.  1 1.  17X4,  in  Svo.  See  Leller's 
'•  Uictionnaire  I  li-torique,"  tome  iv.,  p.  290. 
1'aris  edition,  1827,  ,/.•,;.,  Svo. 

i;0  See  "Britannia  Sanaa,"  par;,  i.,  pp. 
91  to  95. 

'"  Jn  Butler's  '•  Lives  of  the  Father-, 
Maityrs  and  other  1'rineipal  Saint-,"  vol. 
ii.,  at  the  i-t  of  February,  is  entere  i  St. 
Bridget,  or  Bride,  V.  Abbess,  and  Patron  of 
Ireland. 

'7>-  See  "  Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints,''  ^c., 
pp.  9.  10. 

'"  See  "  Lives  of  tlie  Saint.-,"  vol.  ii., 
February  i,  pp.  14  to  22. 

fco  See  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"' 
pp.  287  to  291. 

1CI  The  lartje  folio  vellum  MS.,  in  the 
K.  I.  A.  copy  of  "Leabliar  Ilieae,"  con 
tains  a  Life  of  St.  Bridget.  No.  40,  6. 

182  Some  composition.-,  in  Latin  re^ardin^ 
her  are  also  preserved.  The  XVIII.  vol.  of 
O'Longan  MSS.  in  the  R.  1.  A.  contains, 
Hyinmis  de  virtutilms  ct  miraculis  sanctix.- 
Brigidcc  Kildariensis  abbatiss;i-  et  1'atron.e 
a  Sancto  Brigano,  p.  82.  Yul.  XLI.  of 


numbered  12. 
numbered  165. 
numbered  iGS. 
classed  No.  49,  4. 
classed  No.  39,  6. 
are    tracts:  —  DC    S.    Brigida. 


n  MSS.  in  the  K.  I.  A.  contains  a 
oi  St.  Ilro^an's  short  poem  on  St. 
KM-  d,  seven  (juatrains,  p.  14;.  The  XI.  I. 
vol.  of  O'Lon-an  MSS.  in  the  R.  I.  A. 
contains  St.  llro-an's  Jlymn  to  St.  Brigid, 
published  by  Colgan,  p.  144.  The  LIV. 
vol.  of  O'Longan  MSS.  in  the  R.  I.  A.  con 
tains  a  poem  on  St.  Brigid,  improperly 
ascribed  to  St.  Suibne,  the  sou  of  Colman, 
p.  176. 

This 
4  This 
This 
'"  '1  his 
"•  This 
sllcre 

^IS.  Trin.  C'oll.  Dublin.  290.  Miracula 
B.  Brigidiv,  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin.  647. 
Vita  S.  Urigid;u,  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin. 
647.  Tins  is  a  transcript  from  the  Cotto- 
nian  .MS.  Nero.,  F.  i.,  No.  316.  Also  Yita 
i.  Brigid;v,  MS.  Trin.  Coll.  Dublin.  This 
is  a  transcript  from  a  Ratisbon  Manuscript, 
with  emendations  by  Ussher.  See  Sir 
Thomas  Duffus  Hardy's  "Descriptive 
Catalogue  of  Materials  Relating  to  the 
History  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,"  vol. 
i.,  part  i.,  p.  114. 

'The  Trinity  College  MS.,  classed  II. 

I.  n,  contains  i.   A  Life  of  St.  Brigid,   ac 

cording  to  the  accounts  of  learned  antiqua- 

'  rian.s   and   handed   down   by   tradition.      It 

begins,   •peAcci!]-  -oo  imbrue. 

'It     is    classed,     "Vita    S.   Brigidse," 
Virg.  vol.  3,  4,  23.     MSS. 

'''I  he    following    are    among    these:  — 
Vita  S.  Brigida.',  Scotice-Mutila  MS.  Insul, 

C 


iS 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


bridge,  the  British  Museum1?2  and  Lambeth,  as  also  Scotch  _and  European1^ 
Libraries,  are  stored  with  different  Acts  of  this  illustrious  Saint.  There  is  an 
Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  transcribed  by  Michael  O'Clery,  and  kept  among  the 
MS.  records  of  the  Burgundian  Library,  at  Bruxelles.1^  If  all  these  public 
collections  could  be  examined  and  compared,  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt, 
but  much  valuable  matter  might  be  evolved,  to  place  her  history  in  a  truer 
light  than  has  yet  been  obtained.  Those  documents  prove,  likewise,  that 
her  fame  was  by  no  means  confined  to  Ireland.1?5  Indeed,  it  may  be  said, 
hardly  any  Saint  in  the  universal  Church  was  more  renowned  during  the 
Middle  Ages,  than  Ireland's  great  Patroness  •  and  the  prodigies  recorded 
concerning  her  sufficiently  manifest  that  special  devotion  entertained  for  her 
memory  by  numberless  clients  and  admirers.  Her  memorials  also  have  been 
succinctly  related  in  various  Breviaries  :  viz.  in  the  old  Roman  one,  published 
at  Venice  in  1522  ;  in  that  printed  at  Genoa,  Italy;  in  a  Breviary  issued  at 
Cornouaille,  in  British  Armorica  ;  in  that  produced  at  Mons,  by  the  Canons 
Regular;  in  that  published  at  Paris,  A.D.  1622,  and  intended  for  Kildare 
diocese ;  as  also  in  others  published  at  Wurtzburgh,  at  Triers,  and  at  other 
places  in  Germany.1?6  Besides  these  the  Breviary  of  Kilmoon  Church,  in 
Ireland,  contained  an  Office  for  St.  Brigid.1??  It  appears  to  have  consisted  of 
Nine  Lessons,  with  Responses,  Antiphons  and  musical  Notation,  but  it  is 
very  much  mutilated  and  defaced. 


arnd  Claudium  :  Doresmieulx.  See  "  Bi- 
biiolheca  Belgica  Manuscript.!,"  p.  266. 
Legenda  in  Festo  S.  Brigittce  MS.  Arundel 
198,  f.  19  b.  This  is  a  short  lection  and  of 
no  great  value.  Vita  S.  Brigidse  MS. 
Lambeth.  94,  18,  f.  155.  Vita  S.  Brigidae 
MS.  Bodl.  Laud.  Misc.  108  (1486)  ff.  93  b. 
94  b.  veil.  fol.  xiv.  cent.  This  is  written 
in  old  English.  Vita  S.  Brigidi-e  MS.  Harl. 
2800,  28,  ff.  74  b.  83  b.  Vita  S.  Brigidce. 
MS.  Bodl.  Tanner.  15  f.  86.  Vita  S. 
Brigidse  Virginis.  MS.  Cott.  Nero.  E.  i. 
29,  ff.  134  b.  140.  Life  of  Brigid.  MS. 
Phillips,  10294,  8vo  paper,  xix.  cent.  Copy 
of  a  MS.  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  Devon 
shire.  Vita  S.  Brigidse.  MS.  Eccl.  Lincoln, 
folio.  See  Haenel  "  Catalogus  Librorum 
Manuscriptorum,"  p.  799.  Vita  S.  Brigidse, 
auctore  Hugbaldo  monacho  Elnonensi  MS. 
Csenob.  Elnonensis,  251.  Vita  S.  Brigidae. 
MS.  Clarendon,  65,  f.  4.  See  Sir  Thomas 
Duffus  Hardy's  "Descriptive  Catalogue  of 
Materials  relating  to  the  History  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  parti.,  pp.  in 
to  114. 

192  Among  the   Clarendon    Manuscripts, 
formerly  the  property  of  Sir  James  Ware, 
are  Excerpts  from  "  Vita  S.  Brigidce,"  and 
a  "  Vita  S.  Brigidse." 

193  In  the  various  European  Libraries  we 
have  been  enabled  to  trace  the   following 
copies  : — Vita  S.  Brigidse  MS.  Regensburg. 
Vita   S.    Brigittae   fragmentum.       We   find 
appended,  "  Hujus  vitee  auctor  est,  ni  fallor, 
Hugbaldus   Elnonensis,    Monachus.      MS. 
Bibl.  du  Roi.  2999,  3.  olim  Le  Tellier  veil, 
xi.  cent.     Vita   S.    Brigidse  Virginis.     MS. 
Bibl.  du  Roi.  3788,  42.  olim  Colbert,  veil, 
xii.  cent.     Yita  S.  Brigidte,  Virginis.     MS. 


Bibl.  du  Roi.  3800.  a.  7.  olim  de  Bethune. 

veil.  xiii.  cent.     Vita  Sanctce  Brigidse,  MS. 

Bibl.    du    Roi.    5269,    21.     olim    Faurian. 

veil.  xiv.  cent.     Vita  S.   Brigidse  Virginis. 

MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5278,  23.   olim  Colbert. 

veil.  xiii.   &  xiv.   cent.     Vita  S.   Brigidae, 

Virginis.     MS.    Bibl.    du    Roi.    5292,    48. 

olim    Colbert,    veil.    xiii.    cent.       Vita    S. 

Brigidae,  Virginis.   MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5318, 

60.   olim   Bigot,   veil.   xiii.    cent.     Vita  S. 

Brigidse,  Virginis.  MS.  Bibl.  du  Roi.  5352, 
i.  olim  Colbert,  veil.  xiv.  cent.  Vita 
Brigiclre,  MS.  Petavii  in  Vaticana,  507. 
Vita  S.  Brigidce,  MS.  Bibl.  Monast.  S. 
Audoeni  Rothomag,  104.  Vita  Brigidic 
MS.  Monast.  de  Becco,  128.  Vita  S. 
Brigidoe.  MS.  Vatican,  4872.  MS.  Vati 
can,  6074.  MS.  Vatican,  6075.  Vita  S. 
Brigittse.  MS.  Vallicellan.  ap.  Rom.  H.  12, 
f.  195.  MS.  Vallicellan.  ap.  Rom.  H.  25, 
f.  43.  MS.  Vallicellan.  ap.  Rom.  H.  28,  f. 
105.  Vita  S.  Brigittrc.  MS.  Palatin,  863. 
Vita  S.  Brigidae.  MS.  Laureatiance  Medi- 
ccye  in  bibl.  Florentine  iv.  323.  Cod.  xx. 
Vita  S.  Brigidse.  MS.  Monast.  S.  Gisleni 
in  Cella.  See  Sir  Thomas  Duffus  Hardy's 
"  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Materials  relating 
to  the  History  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland," 
vol.  i.,  part,  i.,  pp.  114  to  116. 
*94  Vol.  xi.,  fol.  i. 

*K  Among  the  Bruxelles  MSS.,  in  the 
Burgundian  Library,  there  is  a  tract  ' '  S. 
Brigidte  Vita,"  vol.  iv.,  part  i.,  p.  24. 

196  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  S.  Brigidce.  Appendix  Tertia,  cap.  i., 
pp.  609,  610. 

'w  See  Trinity  College  MS.,  classed  B.  i, 
5,  at  fol.  114  b. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


I  he  less  remote  genealogies  of  Ireland's  kings,  chiefs,  and  saints  arc 
iound  to  harmonize  in  a  remarkable  manner  with  each  other.  Nor  can  we 
regard  more  ancient  pedigrees  and  traditions  as  mere  fabrications.^8  Ac 
cording  to  Cogitosus  and  Animosus,  St.  Brigid  was  descended  from 
Feidhmidh  Rechtmar  or  the  Law-giver,'^  through  the  line  of  Fthach,200  or 
Eochaidh2°'Finn  Foihurt.  his  son,  who  was  brother  to  the  celebrated 
Conn  of  the  Hundred  Buttles,  King  of  Ireland.—  The  family  to  which  our 

lint  belonged  was  formerly  very  celebrated,  and  a  powerful  one,  belonging 
to  the  Province  of  Leinster.  In  Irish  song  and  story,  bards  and  senachies 
limed  their  renown.  The  genealogists  of  Ireland  have  been  careful 
to  record  St.  Brigid's  descent,20  •  which  in  the  direct  line  irom  her  paternal 
progenitor,  Eochaidh  Finn  Futharr,  was  illustrated  by  holy  persons,  as  well 
as  by  heroes.20*  The  various  Irish  pedigrees  and  kalendars  enumerate  not 

sss  than  fourteen— Colgan-'^  only  enters  thirteen— saints/06  who  had  been 
descended  from  Focluuuh  Finn.  Two  of  these  named  in  the  list  are  sup 
posed,  however,  to  have  been  of  a  different  family.  St.  Gall,  Patron  of 
Switzerland,20?  and  his  brother  Deicolus,  Abbot  of  Lure203  have  been  con- 
jccturally  added  to  the  foregoing  number.  The  following  is  the  order  of  pa 
ternal  descent,  traced  for  St.  Bngid.  To  Fochaidh  Finn  was  born  a  son, 
named  Aongus  Meann.  He  had  a  son  Cormac,  whose  son  Cairpre  Niadh 
was  father  to  Art  Corb,  whose  son  was  Conleach  or  Conla.  To  the  latter 
was  born  a  son,  Den,  the  father  of  Bresal,  who  was  the  father  of  Demri.2^ 


:<  Sec  Rev.  i)r.  Todd\  "St.  Patrick, 
Apostle  ol  Ireland."  Appendix  to  Intro 
duction,  A,  p.  247. 

l'"'  King  u:  Ireland,  from  A.I'.  104  to  174, 
according  to  O'Flaherty's  clmmulogy.  .sce 
"Ogygi.i,"  Par--  ii>-,  cap.  Ivii.,  pp. '306  to 
308.  In  Dr.  (/Donovan's  "Annals  uf  tile 
Four  Masters,"  however,  his  reign  is  placed 
much  earlier,  vi/.,  from  A.D.  110  to  no. 
See  vol.  i.,  pp.  100  to  103.  Having  enacted 
a  law  of  retaliation  for  the  repression  of 
various  crimes  this  king  died  a  natural 
death,  after  a  reign  oi  nine  years.  Cathaeir 
Mor,  or  the  Great,  succeeded,  according  to 
I  Jr.  O' Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters.''  Alter  a  reign  of  three  years,  \ve 
are  informed,  that  he  was  slam  in  the  battle 
of  Magh-h-Agha,  by  Conn  of  the  Hundred 
1'  ightsand  by  the  Fian  or  militiaof  Luaighne, 
A.D.  122.  See  if>:',t.,  pp.  102,  103. 

J  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "     Secunda 
Vita  S.  Brigida,',  cap.  i.,  p.  519. 

•'-'  See  ibid.  Cjuarta  \"ita  S.  Ikigicla.1, 
cap.^i.,  p.  546. 

^  From  A.D.  177  to  21 !,  according  to 
O'Flaherty's  "Ugygia,''  pars,  iii.,  cap^  lx., 
Ixi.,  pp.  313  to  3KS.  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  has  it  from 
A.D.  123  to  157.  See  vol.  i.,  pp.  103  to 
105. 

-uj  Among  the  St.  Gall  manuscripts  like 
wise  there  is  a  "  Genealogia  S.  IJrigidte. " 

-°4  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  O_uarta  ad  Acta  S.  Ikigidx-,  cap. 
ii.,  p.  613. 

ci  He  remarks,  that  the  Xatales  for  most 
of  those  saints  are  found  entered  in  the 
Martyrologies  of  Tallagh,  of  Marianus 


O'Gorman,ofCathald  Maguire,  and  of  Done 
gal. 

'J  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  saints  and 
their  places,  with  presumed  days  for  their  fes- 
tivit;e>.     i.  St.  Aidan,  venerated  on  the  27th 
of  Augu-t,  or  on  the  41)1  of  September,  at  a 
place  called  Cluain  Tai  bh,  or  Clontarf.      2. 
St.  Berchan. also  called  MobiClairenach, vene 
rated  on  the  1 2th  of  October,  at  Glasnevin. 
3.    St.    Barrindus,    of  Achadh-Cailltin,    at 
tiie   hth  ot    November.     4.    St.  Colman,   of 
Airthir   Femhin.      5.   St.    Declan,    of   Ard- 
more,  venerated  on  the  24th  of  July.      But, 
from    the    Hie   of    this    latter   saint,    which 
Colgan  intended  to  publish  at  that   day,  it 
would  seem,  Declan  and  his  brother  Colman 
are  not  derived  Irom  the  race  of  Eochad,  as 
the  author  of  the  "  Sanctilogic  Genealogy" 
writes,  but  rather  from  the  posterity  of  his 
brother    Fiach    Sugdhe.       6.     St.    Diman, 
bishop,  who  was  venerated  on   the  9th,  or 
on   the  22nd,   of  March.      7.    St.   Enan,   of 
Drum  Rath,  venerated  on  the  igthof  August. 
8.    St.    Fechin,   of  Fore,    venerated  on   the 
20th  of  January.     9.  St.  Finbarr  or  Fionub- 
har,  Abbot  of  Inis  Doimhle,  venerated  on 
the  4th  of  July.      10.   St.  Fintan,  Abbot  of 
Clonenagh,  venerated  on  the  171)1  of  Feb 
ruary,      n.    St.    Fman,    venerated  on    the 
131)1  of  February,  or  on  the  41)1  of  October. 
12.  St.    Mochuan.       13.    St.    Sarnata,    who 
was  venerated  on  the   i6th  of  April.     See 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Appendix 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.    Brigidiu,   cap.   iii.,  p. 
613. 

17  See  his  Life  at  the  i6th  of  October. 

•°3  See  his  Life  at  the  i8th  of  January. 

209  This  accords  with  the  Irish  Life  of  St. 


LIFE   OF  ST.   BRIGID. 


The  sou  of  this  latter  was  Dubtach,  the  father  of  St.  Brigid."°  Thus  was 
the  illustrious  virgin  eleventh  in  lineal  descent,  from  the  renowned  Feidhmidh 
Rechtmar,2"  or  the  Lawgiver,2-  King  of  Ireland,  in  the  second  century  of 
our  Christian  era  2I3  It  would  seem,  that  on  our  saint's  maternal  side,  Bngid 
was  descended  from  the  O'Connor  family.21*  The  mother  of  this  holy  virgin 
is  incorrectly  called  Brocea,  Broca,2I5  or  Broccssa,  by  Cogitosus,  >  and  by 
some  foreign  writers.  But,  by  most  of  our  native  authorities,  she  is  more 
correctly  named  Brotseach,"6  or  Brocseach.21?  The  sister  of  this  Brotseacn 
appears  to  have  been  Fanchca,  the  mother  of  three  holy  sons.21 
Calendar  of  the  CTClerys  states,  that  Broiccseach,2I9  daughter  of  Dallbronach, 
son  to  Aedh  Meamhair,220  was  the  mother  of  this  most  renowned  virgin. 
Such  a  respectable  pedigree  is  alone  sufficient  to  disprove  an  assertion  ot 
certain  writers  recording  our  saint's  acts,  that  her  mother  was  of  servile  con 
dition.  Both  her  parents  are  called  Christians,  and  they  are  reputed  to 
have  been  of  noble  birth.221  It  seems  probable  enough,  they  may  have  been 
among  St.  Patrick's  converts,  when  he  spent  some  time  in  Louth,  before  re 
turning  to  the  North  from  his  southern  missionary  travels.  Besides  the 


Brigid,  in  the  "Book  of  Lismore"  and  in 
the  "  Leabhar  Brcac"  according  to  Professor 
O'Looney's  copy,  pp.  3,  4. 

210  Such   is   her   lim-    as    traced    in    the 
"  Sanctilogic     Genealogies,"     chapter    xv. 
Cormac   Mae  Cuillenan,  in  his   treatise  on 
"Genealogies  of  the   Saints,"  contained  in 
the  "  Psalter  of    Cashel,"  assigns  the  same 
descent  on  the  father's  side,  for   St.  Brigid. 
In    this    particular,    Dr.    Geoffry    Keating 
agrees  with  the   foregoing  authorities.      See 
Dermod    O'Connor's    Keating's    "General 
History  of  Ireland,"  part  ii.,  p.  389. 

211  In  the  Fourth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  it  is 
said,  he  was  thus  named,  because  he  effected 
great  law  reforms  in  his  kingdom  of  Ireland, 
while   "  Reacht"  of    the  Scotic    dialect    in 
Latin  is  identical  with  "lex/'     In   English 
it  means  "  law." 

212  Colgan    agrees,     that    the    cognomen 
Rcachtmar  is  Latinized  by  the  words  "  legi- 
fer"  or  "legislator."     Such  an  epithet  had 
been  bestowed  on  him  because  of  his  being 
a  great  lover  of  justice.      He  also  says   that 
the  origin  of  this  word   "  Rcachtmar^  is  in 
accordance  with  our  historic  traditions,  and 
the  common  use  of  the  epithet.     See  "  Trias 
Thaumaturga."     Vita   Quarta   S.    Brigidte, 
lib.  i.,  cap.  i.,  p.  546,  and  n.  3,  p.  563. 

213  The   O'Clery's   Calendar  agrees,  like 
wise,    that   St.  Brigid  descended  from   the 
race    of    Eochaidh    Finnfuathairt,    son    to 
Feidhlimidh   Reachtmhar,   son   to    Tuathal 
Teachtmhar,  Monarch  of  Erinn. 

214  According    to     Professor   O'Looney's 
Irish  Life,  St.  Brigid's   mother  was  Broig- 
seach,  the  daughter  of  Dallbronach,  of  the 
Dail  Conchobhar  in  South  Brcgia. 

215  In  the  Third  Office  of  St.  Brigid,  pub 
lished  by  Colgan,  "  patre  Diptoco,  et  matre 
Broca,"  are  held  to  have  been  her  parents. 
Her  offices  and  other  accounts   make    our 
.saint  a  native   of   Leinster.     This  was  an 
ciently    a    Province    of    Ireland,    bounded 
eastwards  by  the  Irish  Sea,  having  Minister 


on  its  south  and  west,  with  Meath  towards 
the  north.  Like  other  great  districts  of  Ire 
land,  it  had  its  own  kings  ;  subject,  however, 
to  the  chief  monarch  of  the  island.  Naas 
was  the  capital  cityduring  St.  Brigid's  period. 
Its  metropolis  for  many  ages  past  has  been 
Dublin,  which  formerly  had  many  suffragan 
sees  within  its  present  archiepiscopal  limits. 
For  some  time  past,  it  has  only  the  suffragan 
sees  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,  Ossory  and 
Ferns. 

216  Co]ga.n  remarks,    that   she   should    be 
called   Brotseach,    as  the   generality  of  au 
thors — especially  in  old  Latin  codices — style 
her.    See  "Trias  Thaumaturga."    Appendix 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigida^,  cap.  ii.,  p.  613. 

217  Irish   writers  more   generally,  as   also 
more  correctly,  write  her  name   Brocseach, 
and  hence  Colgan  prefers  to  adopt  their  or 
thography.     See  ibid.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Bri 
gid  03,  n.  8,  p.  563. 

218  St.  /Engus  the  Culdee,   in  his  tract, 
"Mothers  of  the  Irish  Saints,"  relates,  that 
Fanchca,  daughter  of  Dalbronach,  was  mo 
ther  of  Saints  Conall,  Eugene,  and  Carbre, 
three  sons  of  Neman. 

219  In  the  table  to  this  martyrology,  after 
the  holy  virgin's  name,  we  find  the  following 
comment    introduced,    within    brackets  : — 
"[Daughter  of  Bro'icsech  ;  her  mother  was 
Brocsecha.]"     Sec  "  Martyrology  of  Done 
gal."     Edited  by  Drs.  Tocld  and  Reeves. 

220  He  is  said  to  have  been  of  Dalconchab- 
huir,  in  the  southern  part  of  Bregia,  accord 
ing  to  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.    St.  Ultan 
also  belonged  to  that  family.     A   scholiast, 
in  his  preface  to  a  hymn,  said  to  have  been 
composed  by  St.  Ultan,  writes,  that  he  com 
posed  this  hymn  in  praise   of  St.    Brigid  : 
and  that  he  was  of  the  Daleconchabuir,  to 
which  belonged  St.  Brigid's  [mother,  Brot 
seach,  daughter  of  Dallbronac. 

221  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Cogitosus'  or  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
i.,  p.  519. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  FRIGID. 


testimony  of  Cogitostts,  referable  to  the  Christian  parentage  of  St.  Brigid,  in 
that  metrical  prologue  to  her  sixth  life,22-'  Dubtach  is  represented  as  a  noble, 
pious  man.  and  still  more  noble,  through  his  own  proper  spouse2-'-5  and  their 
holy  offspring.22*  Xor  does  there  appear  to  be  any  qualification  to  this 
eulogy,  in  regard  to  any  particular  portion  of  his  life.  Whether  the  birth  of 
their  illustrious  daughter  took  place  before  or  after  their  conversion  to  Chris 
tianity  is  not  established  on  any  reliable  authority. 

Our  most  judicious  historians,  Protestant  and  Catholic,22?  pass  over  in 
silence,  or  with  reproof,  those  very  incredible  legends,  which  contradict  the 
foregoing  accounts."'  Indeed,  an  exact  critical  analysis  will  only  serve  to 
render  the  least  remarkable  circumstances,  attending  St.  Brigid's  birth,  more 
probable;  while  the  romantic  narratives  can  be  traced  to  no  better  sources 
than  popular  traditions,  so  liable  to  be  obscured  by  fables.  No  doubt,  cer 
tain  old  Acts  of  the  saint— we  cannot  be  sure,  however,  these  are  the  most 
ancient  and  authentic —contain  the  entry  of  such  preposterous  statements. 
Later  writers,  during  the  middle  ages,2-'?  adopted  those  vain  fantasies,  without 
sufficient  examination,  and  these  again  have  been  repeated  by  more  modern 
writers"3  unreflectingly  or  in  complete  ignorance  of  the  historic  value,  applic 
able  to  their  sources  for  information.  The  genealogy  of  St.  Brigid's  mother- 
apparently  drawn  from  remote  pedigrees — shows  that  she  was  not  of  servile 
condition, 225  but  through  family  origin,  in  every  respect,  fitted  to  be  the 
lawful  and  respected  spouse  of  the  noble  Dubtach. 

'1  he  best  refutation  of  certain  strange  accounts,  relating  to  St.  Brigid's 
birth,  will  probably  be  found  in  a  brief  statement  of  the  legend. 2>  The 
paternal  ancestor  of  our  illustrious  virgin,  and  who  is  named  Kochaidh  Finn, 
went  among  the  I.agcnians.  whose  king  bestowed  many  tracts  of  land  on  him, 
at  different  places.  In  that  province  the  prince's  posterity  dwelt  at  a  time 


="  "  Dubtachus  ejus  erat  genitor  cogno- 

niinc  dirtus  ; 

Claru.s  homo  merit  is,  clarus  ct  a  proa- 
vis  ; 

Xobilis  atque  humilis,   mitis   pietate 

repletus  ; 

Nobilior  propria  conjure,  prole  pia.'1 
—  Scxta  Vita  S.  Brigidaj.  Prologus.  Col- 
gan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  p.  5S2. 

"3  She  is  understood  to  have  been  Bro- 
cessa  or  Brotseach,  the  mother  of  St. 
Brigid. 

•-4  In  those  well-known  acts  of  St.  Brigid, 
written  by  Cogitosiis,  she  is  said  to  have 
been  predestined  for  accomplishment  of  the 
Almighty's  decrees,  by  special  graces  re 
ceived  from  heaven. 

?-"5  Such  as  U.v-her,  Ware,  Lanigan,  &c. 
The  latter  writer  observes,  that  "  no  atten 
tion  is  due  to  \vl:  :  \ve  find  in  two  or  three 
of  the  so-called  Lives  of  St.  Brigid  concern 
ing  her  mother  having  been  a  concubine, 
whom,  when  pregnant,  the  wife  of  Dubtach 
obliged  him  to  dismiss,  and  of  her  having 
been  purchased  by  a  pagan  poet  or  a  magus, 
and  how,  in  consequence  of  his  taking  her 
to  Ulster,  she  was  then  delivered  of  the 
saint.  This  romance-like  narrative  cannot 
agree  with  the  circumstance,  that  the  parents 
of  the  saint  were  Christians.  I  mean  such 
strict  Christians  as  were  then  in  Ireland,  nor 
vith  the  rank  of  her  mother's  family  and  her 


being    everywhere    else    spoken    of    as    the 
wile  of  I  hibtach." 

-''  Thai  the  illustrious  St.  Brigid  was 
burn  in  Scotia  of  noble  and  Christian  parents 
isolated  in  the  ''Chronica  (Jeneralis  Mun- 
d:,"  by  I'etrus  de  Natalibus,  lib.  iii.,  cap. 
69,  as,  ul.-o,  in  St.  Brigid's  Second,  Third, 
and  Fourth  Offices,  published  by  Colgan. 
She  is  said  to  have  been  "de  bona  pro- 
saj>ia''  in  the  1'irst  Oince. 

-'  See  the  succinct  account  of  John  Cap- 
grave  in  his  ''  Nova  Legenda  Angliae,"  fol. 
xh\. 

•'•*  Such  as  Harris  in  his  edition  of  Sir 
James  Ware's  works,  vol.  ii.,  "  Writers  of 
Ireland,"  book  i.,  ehap.  iii.,  pp.  II,  12. 

--•*  That  she  was  a  captive  is  intimated  in 
Colgan's  tir^t  published  metrical  acts  of  the 
saint,  attributed  to  St.  Brogan  Cloen.  See 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Hymnus,  sen  Vita 
I'riina  S.  Hrigiche,  strophe  i.,  p.  515. 

•  On  this  subject,  Dr.  Lanigan  remarks  : 
'' These  stories  are  given  in  the  third  and 
fourth  lives,  which  in  very  great  part  are 
mere  transcripts  of  each  other,  agreeing, 
word  for  word,  in  many  passages.  The 
former  bears  every  appearance  of  being  an 
abridgment  of  the  latter.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
ihey  form  but  one  authority.  And  as  to 
the  life  called  the  fifth,  whatever  it  has  on 
these  subjects  was  evidently  taken  from  one 
or  other  of  them.  Amidst  other  nonsense 


LIfE  Of  ST.  BRIGW. 


when  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life  wrote.*'     Lrom  his  race  as  we 
are  told  a  celebrated  and  powerful  chieftain,  named  Dubtach,  was   derived 
who  bought  a  female  servant,  named  Broschach.     She  was  very  beautifu  and 
distinguished  by  her  great  propriety  of  manner.'*      Immediately  after  follows 
a  romantic  and  an   incredible  account,  seemingly  irreconcilable   with  this 
latter  statement.     On  learning  that  Broschach  had  conceived,  the  proper 
wife  of  Dubtach,  it  is  said,  became   very  much  grieved,  and  advise 
husband  to  sell  his  slaveys     Fear  was  expressed,  at  the  same  time,  that 
Broschach's  children  should  domineer  over  the  family  of  his  wife.        ut,  tt 
chieftain  Dubtach  would  not  hearken  to  the  counsels  of  his  consort,  o 
count  of  a  great  love  he  entertained  for  Broschach.2^ 

About  this  time,  it  is  said,  that  two  holy  bishops^  came  from  Britain, 
and  entered  the  house  of  Dubtach.     One  of  these  was  called  Mel  or  Maol, 
and  the  other  Melchu  or  Maolchu.237     These  were  disciples,  we  are  told,  ot 
St  Patrick,  the  archbishop,  who  then  preached  God's  word  in  Ireland.23 
Maol  said  to  Dub.tach's  wife,  ';  Why  are  you  sorrowful  ?     The  offspring  c 
thy  servant,  shall  be  exalted  above  you  and  your  progeny  :2 
that  servant  equally  with  your  own  sons,  because  her  infant  shall  procure  blessings 

for  your  children."  But,  the  jealously  of  Dubtach's  wife  was  not  appeased, 
and  her  brothers,  who  were  powerful  and  brave  men,  earnestly  urged  Dubtach 
to  sell  his  servant,  in  a  distant  part  of  the  country.  By  a  special  inspiration 
a  poet,  belonging  to  the  Hy-Niall  family,2'0  came  from  the  northern  part  of 


contained  in  these  tracts  a  magus  is  intro 
duced  foretelling  the  future  sanctity  of  the 
child,  while  she  was  still  in  her  mother's 
womb." — "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire 
land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  n.  22,  pp. 
381,  382. 

231  Colgan  remarks,  that  this  account  fur 
nishes  no  slight  indication  showing  how  the 
author  of  this  life  lived  at  a  very  early  period, 
and  that  he  flourished  at  least  previously  to 
the  tenth  century,  as  for  many  ages  back, 
the  family  of  St.  Brigid  did  not  live,  in  those 
places  to   which   allusion  had   been  made. 
See  "Trias  Thaumaturga."     Quarta   Vita 
S.  Brigidae,  n.  7,  p.  563.      It  may  be  asked, 
however,  on  what  data  Colgan  grounds  his 
assertion,  even  if  the  author  specified  those 
exact  places  ?    This  he  has  not  done. 

232  In  the  Third  Life,  this  latter  account 
of  Brocseach's  good  morals — as  contained  in 
the  Fourth  Life — is  coincidently  given.     See 
"Tertia  Vita   S.  Brigicla;,  cap.  i. ,    p.    527. 
Both  statements  appear  to  have  been  im 
plicitly  followed,  in  the  Fifth  or  acephalous 
Life  of  our  saint,  which  Colgan  supplies  in 
his  own  words,  and  in  elegant  Latin,  appa 
rently  written  to  imitate  Laurence  of  Dur 
ham's  style.     This  narrative  is  paraphrased 
from   more    succinct    accounts    of    previous 
writers.     To  supply  what  is  wanting  in  his 
author,  Colgan  draws  somewhat  on  his  own 
imagination — a  rather  exceptional  case  with 
him. 

233  In  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  con 
tained  in  the  "  Leabhar  Breac"  and  the 
"  Book  of  Lismore,"  the  account  is  some 
what  similar. 

334  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 


Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidrc,  lib.  i.,  cap.  i.,  p. 
546.  In  closing  this  account  of  Broschach, 
as  she  is  generally  called  throughout  the 
Fourth  Life,  the  author  adds  regarding  her, 
"  in  omnibus  enim  moribus,  ilia  fscmina  erat 
perfecta." 

235  They  were  disciples  and  nephews  of 
St.  Patrick,  the  children  of  his  sister  Darerca. 
Colgan  gives  their  acts,  at  the  6th  of  Feb 
ruary,  the  day  of  their  feast,  in  his  "  Acta 
Sanctorum  Ilibernice,"  vi.  Februarii,  pp. 
259  to  264. 

-•^  In  Professor  O'Looney's  "Life  of  St. 
Brigid,"  Irish  and  English  MS.,  while  call 
ing"  them  bishops  of  the  Britons,  they  are 
said  to  have  come  from  the  Alps  to  foretel 
of  her,  pp.  5>  6. 

-^  In  the  "Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidre"  they 
are  called  Mel  and  Melchu,  as  also  in  many 
other  works.  In  the  "  Vita  Quarta  S.  Bri- 
giclte"  they  are  more  correctly  named,  Maol 
and  Maolchu,  or  by  change  of  the  dipthong, 
Mael  and  Maelchu  ;  for  ao,  ae,  and  n-  were 
indifferently  used  by  the  Irish  and  other 
ancient  people. 

238  Such  is  the  account  given,  in  the  Fourth 
Life  of  St.  Brigid. 

239  In  an  Irish  life  (chap,  ii.)  this  wife  of 
the  chieftain  is  called  Brectan.     She  is  said 
to  have  borne  seven   sons   to   Dubtach,  the 
seventh  or  last  having  been  born   after  the 
birth  of  St.  Brigid.      See  Colgan's    "Trias 
Thaumaturga."      Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigiclse, 
n.  10,  p.  564. 

240  «  jd  est;  de  terra  nepotum  Neill,  seu 
Media."      The  poet,    in   question,    or   the 
magus,  as  he  is  called  in  the  St.  Autbert 
MS.,  came  from  the  territory  of  Himaccuais 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Ireland,2'1  and  bought  this  female  slave  from  Uubtach,  who  consented  to  sell 
her,  because  he  feared  the  anger  of  his  wife,2-*2  and  of  her  brothers,  belonging 
to  a  noble  family. 2«  Yet,  he  would  not  consent  to  sell  the  child,  which  she 
then  bore,  because  wonderful  things  had  been  predicted  regarding  the  unborn 
infant.2**  In  his  account  of  these  transactions,  Laurence  of  Durham  remarks, 
that  the  English,  Irish,  and  Scotch  were  accustomed  to  deal  in  slaves,  more 
than  in  any  other  kind  of  merchandise  ;  and  that  they  even  considered  it  an 
honourable  kind  of  traffic,  although  so  much  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  Chris 
tianity.  He  says,  that  the  mother  had  been  known  to  sell  her  daughter,  the 


in  Meath,  and  from  the  particular  spot  called 
Tochar-mainc,  as  Mated  in  St.  Brigid's  Irish 
Life  (cap.  v.)  Although,  in  the  Fourth  Life, 
it  is  said,  he  was  "  poeta  de  aquilone  Hi- 
berniie,"  there  is  nothing  contradictory  to  be 
found  ;  because  relatively  to  Leinster,  Meath 
lay  to  the  north,  and  because  a  certain 
ma^ns,  or  poet,  belonging  to  the  region  of 
Conall  Marthemne,  in  Ulster,  bought  the 
mother  of  St.  Brigid,  not  immediately  from 
Dubtach.  but  from  the  aforesaid  Meathian 
poet.  This  is  expressly  stated,  in  the  Iri-h 
Life.  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigida1,  n.  4,  \\  542. 

-•"  In  Professor  U'Lconey's  MS.  the  poet 
is  said  to  have  been  of  the  l"i  Mac  L'ais, 
and  to  have  been  from  Tochur  Maine,  pp. 
S,  6. 

242  Laurence    of    Durham's     fragmentary 
life  starts  with   an   announcement,  that    the 
wife  of  Duhtach,    bitterly   reproaching   her 
husband  with  his  infidelities,  declared'    that 
henceforth  he  must  makeup  his  mind,  either 
to  sell  his  female  slave,  or  be  prepared  for  her 
own  separation  from  him.     Her  persistently 
expressed    resolution,    it    is   said,    overcame 
her  husband's  previous  intention.     Dubtach 
then  placed  his  servant  in  the  chariot,  which 
enabled  him  to  journey  after  the  fashion   of 
his  country,  to  reach  a  place  where  he  could 
find  a  market. 

243  By  the  later  writers  of  our  saint's  acts, 
we  are  told,  that  one  day  the  holy  maiden's 
father  and  mother  passed  by  the  house  of  a 
certain  magus,  in  a  chariot.      In  St.  Brigid's 
Irish  Life  he  is  called  Maithginn,  from  whom 
Ross-Maithginn  is  denominated.    I  le  ordered 
the  servants  to  inform  him  who  were  seated 
in  it,  for  by  the  noise  of  this  vehicle,  Maith 
ginn   supposed    it   conveyed  a   king.      The 
servants  reported   to  their  master,  that   the 
chariot  contained  i ';.'.nhac.     The  magus  de 
sired  him  to  be  called.    On  being  hailed,  the 
magician  asked  if  the  woman,  called  ancilla, 
who  sat  behind  him  in  the  chariot,  was  with 
child.     On  receiving  an  answer  in  the  affir 
mative  from   Dubtach,  the  magician   asked 
her  the  name  of  this  unborn  child's   father. 
She  replied,  that  Dubtach   was   its   parent. 
Then  the  magus  addressed  these  words  to 
him,    "Be  thou  a  careful  guardian   of  this 
woman,  for  the  child  she  bears  shall  become 
illustrious."     Dubtach  then  told  the  magus 
that  his  wife,  who  feared  this  child's  birth, 


had  urged  him  to  sell  his  fellow-traveller, 
who  is  represented  as  being  a  slave.  The 
magus  then  prnphesised,  that  the  children 
of  Dubtach's  wife  should  serve  the  family  of 
her  servant  for  ever.  The  magician  also 
said  to  the  servant  :  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  for 
no  person  shall  be  able  to  injure  you  ;  the 
graces  bestowed  on  your  infant  shall  prove 
your  protection,  for  to  you  shall  be  born  an 
illustrious  daughter,  who  will  shine  in  this 
world  with  the  brightness  of  the  noon-day 
sun.''  Dubtach  replied,  "I  give  thanks  to 
('•nd,  that  hitherto  1  have  had  no  daughter, 
although  having  sons. "  After  these  words 
of  the  magus,  Dubtach  regarded  his  female 
servant  with  greater  affection  ;  although  his 
wife,  with  her  brothers,  urged  her  husband 
to  sell  his  slave,  in  a  far  distant  country. 
See  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Vita  Tertia  S. 
Brigidaj,  cap.  ii.,  p.  527.  Vita  Quarta  S. 
Brigii;;!',  lib.  i.,  cap.  ii.,  p.  546,  ibid.  In 
the  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint,  a  similar  story  is 
told  substantially,  but  in  a  more  improved 
Latin  phraseology  and  style  ;  a  greater  im 
aginative  liberty  having  been  taken  appa 
rently  with  special  circumstances  given  in 
previous  accounts.  See  Vita  (vhiinta  S.  Bn- 
gidcc,  cap.  iii.,  p.  567,  ibid.  In  the  metrical 
acts  of  St.  Brigid,  the  matter  is  thus  briefly 
recorded  :  — 

"  Quadam  namque  die  genetrix  dum  forte 

sedebat, 
In  curru  pra-gnans,  ncc  tune  enixa  puel- 

lam, 
Dumque  frementis  equi  spumantia  colla 

tencbat, 
Pulvcrulenta  quidem  vestigia  longa  sona- 

bat. 

Audierat  sonitum  vatcs  stridere  rotarum 
Dixerat  ;  ecce  vcnit.      Rex  est,  qui  prae- 

sidct  axi. 
Sed  commitissa  tamen  carpentum  sola  re- 

gebat. 
—  Se'xta  Vita   S.  Brigid.T,  sec.  i.,  pp.   582, 

5S3,  ibiJ. 

-44  In  the  Office  of  St.  Brigid,  printed  at 
Paris  in  1622,  and  in  her  other  printed 
or  manuscripts  offices,  various  portents  re 
ferring  to  her  conception  and  early  child 
hood  are  noticed,  in  the  antiphons,  hymns 
and  responses.  Also,  many  virtues  and 
miracles,  which  afterwards  distinguished 
her,  arc  related. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


son  his  father,  and  a  husband  his  wife,  forgetting  every  sentiment  of  nature 
and  grace.^5  After  the  Normans  took  possession  of  England,  slavery  of 
this  sort  was  happily  abolished  ;  and  the  English  owed  _this  happy  change, 
rather  to  invaders,  than  to  their  own  countrymen.  This  writer  adds,  that 
the  Irish  and  Scots,  having  lords  of  their  own  nation,  never  wholly  abandoned 
serfdom,  nor  yet  allowed  it  to  exist,  as  formerly  they  did.2-)6  However  this 
may  be,  we  are  obliged  to  resume  the  incredible  and  contradictory  romance, 
which  consigns  St.  Brigid's  mother  to  a  state  of  bondage.  With  his  newly- 
purchased  slave,  the  poet  afterwards  returned  to  his  own_  country.2-^  A 
certain  holy  man  paid  a  visit,  on  that  night  of  arrival  at  his_  house.  This 
pious  guest  prayed  to  God,  the  whole  night.  Frequently  during  that  time, 
he  saw  a  globe  of  fire,  resting  over  the  spot,  where  the  bond-woman  and 
mother  of  St.  Brigid  slept.  Respecting  such  circumstances,  the  poet  _ host 
was  apprized  in  the  morning.2^3  Several  incidents,  connected  with  St.  Brigid  s 
birth,  as  related  by  some  of  her  biographers,  are  puerile  in  the  extreme,  and 
unworthy  the  slightest  degree;  of  credit.2^  It  is  said,  a  certain  infant,  whose 


"43  Colgan  remarks,  that  except  in  the 
writings  of  this  author,  lie  could  never  dis 
cover  elsewhere,  authority  for  the  statement 
of  a  custom  prevailing  in  former  times  among 
the  Irish,  whereby  a  brother  would  sell  his 
brother,  a  daughter  her  mother,  a  father  his 
son,  or  any  other  relative  his  kinsman.  Tf 
the  sale  of  slaves  and  captives  prevailed  in 
pagan  times,  the  mild  spirit  of  Christianity 
and  of  religious  feeling  haslongago  abolished 
all  vile  customs  of  the  slave  mart,  in  our 
island.  We  read,  however,  that  the  English 
and  Britons,  even  long  after  their  reception 
of  the  Christian  religion,  allowed  this  abomin 
able  trade  in  human  creatures  to  continue. 
We  learn,  also,  that  to  this  infamous  traffic 
in  men  and  women,  could  be  traced,  in  great 
part,  their  loss  of  liberty  and  subjection  to 
a  foreign  yoke.  These  were  regarded  as 
just  punishments  and  visitations  of  God, 
for  permitting  such  abuses.  Sec  Colgan's 
"Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quinta  Vita  S. 
Brigidre,  cap.  L,  ii.,  p.  567  and  n.  5,  p. 
639,  ibid. 

246  Giraldus  Cambrensis  writes  as  follows 
on  this  subject,  in  reference  to  Ireland,  that 
soon  after  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion,  a 
council  was  convened  at  Armagh,  in  which 
it  was  decreed,  that  the  English,  then  held 
as  bondsmen,  in  various  parts  of  Hibernia, 
should  be  set  at  liberty.  The  clergy  and 
laity  were  unanimously  agreed  on  this  sub 
ject.  Previously  to  that  period,  the  Saxons 
were  accustomed  to  sell  their  own  children 
and  relations  as  slaves  to  the  Irish,  even 
although  not  pressed  to  it  by  any  necessity. 
Merchants  and  pirates  were  alike  engaged 
in  this  nefarious  commerce.  The  Irish, 
becoming  purchasers  of  those  slaves,  were 
justly  deemed  as  partners  in  such  traffic,  and 
therefore  was  it  thought  they  had  incurred 
Divine  displeasure,  which  had  been  mani 
fested  by  permitting  their  subjection,  in  turn, 
to  the  Anglo-Norman  invaders.  See  "  Ex- 
pugnatio  Hibemica,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  xviii.,  p. 


258.     diraldus  Cambrensis,  Opera,  vol.  v., 
Dimock's  edition. 

'4?  According  to  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Eife  in  MS.  a  Druid  from  the  territory 
of  Connaill  repurchased  the  bondwoman 
from  the  poet  ;  and  brought  her  to  his  own 
part  of  the  country,  pp.  5,  6. 

248  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigida',  cap.  iii.,  p.  527. 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida',  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii., 
iv.,  p.  546.  In  the  Fifth  Life,  the  foregoing 
accounts  are  greatly  extended,  by  the  intro 
duction  of  imaginary  discourses  and  circum 
stances.  See  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigida:,  cap. 
iii.,  iv. ,  pp.  567,  568,  ibid. 

24?  After  the  account  already  given,  theThird 
Life  inserts  a  ridiculous  narrative,  relative  to 
an  occurrence  at  the  infant's  birth.  This 
same  narrative  is  given  in  the  Fourth  Life, 
where  it  is  added,  that  the  infant  St.  Brigid 
was  distinguished  by  extraordinary  beauty 
of  features.  "  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,"  lib. 
i.,  cap.  v.,  pp.  546,  547,  ibid.  As  usual, 
Laurence  of  Durham  greatly  enlarges  on  the 
foregoing  accounts.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidre, 
cap.  v.,  p.  568,  ibid.  We  are  assured,  by  Col- 
gan,  that  a  king  alluded  to,  and  then  with  his 
queen  a  guest  with  the  magus,  was  dynast 
of  Conall  Murthemne,  a  region  mentioned, 
in  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.  In  a  part  of 
this  territory,  designated  Fochart,  St.  Brigid 
was  born,  according  to  the  same  authority, 
and  to  Henry  of  Marlborough,  A.D.  468. 
Conchobarius  in  "  Vita  S.  Monenna;,"  and 
other  biographers  are  of  accord.  These  are 
followed  by  Ussher,  "  De  Primordiis  Eccle- 
siarum  Britannicarum,"  pp.  627,  884.  But, 
the  magian  here  mentioned  is  not  identical 
with  the  Meathian,  who  purchased  St. 
Brigid 's  mother  in  the  first  instance.  He 
was  the  second  purchaser  and  he  belonged 
to  the  territory  of  the  aforesaid  Conall,  as 
mentioned  in  an  Irish  Life.  The  student 
may  refer  to  "Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,"  n. 
5.  P-  543- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


birth  had  preceded  St.  Brigid's  by  a  single  day,250  died  suddenly  on  that  of 
our  saint's  nativity.251  By  some  chance,  Brigid,  being  brought  near  the  life 
less  body  of  this  infant,  touched  it.252  The  child  was  immediately  restored 
to  life.  When  this  miracle  took  place,  all  who  were  present  declared,  Brigid 
was  that  renowned  saint,  promised  by  the  prophets.253 

After  our  saint's  birth,  the  magus  is  said  to  have  brought  her  mother  with 
him  to  Connaught,  where  he  dwelt ;  and,  it  is  also  stated,  that  the  mother  of 
this  magus  had  been  a  native  of  that  province,  while  his  father  was  born  in 
Munster.254  One  day,  when  the  mother  of  St.  Brigid  went  some  distance  to 
milk  cows,255  she  left  her  infant  sleeping  alone  in  the  house.  Suddenly,  it 
appeared  to  be  in  llames,  and  all  who  saw  ran  to  extinguish  them.256  On 
approaching  the  dwelling,  however,  these  llames  went  out  ;  and  on  entering, 
the  people  found  St.  Brigid  sweetly  smiling,  with  infantile  innocence  and 
beauty,  her  cheeks  being  flushed  with  a  roseate  hue.-'57  All  proclaimed 
aloud,  that  the  child  was  replenished  with  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit.1'5" 

Before  we  proceed  further,  it  may  be  well  to  mention,  that  St.  Brigid's 
biographers  seem  generally  to  agree  in  naming  Fochard^  as  her  birthplace. 
Such  is  the  account  left  us  in  her  Fourth  Life.  There,  as  we  are  told,  the 
village  in  which  she  was  born  bore  the  name,  Fochart  Muirthemnc,2CO  being 
in  the  region  called  Conaille  Muirthemhne,  formerly  within  the  Ulster 
province.'-'01  The  tradition,  on  which  such  a  statement  prevails,  is  referable 
to  a  remote  time.20-  At  present,  Faughart36^  is  a  small  country  village,  in 


'•'  This  infant  is  said  to  have  been  a  son 
of  the  King  and  Queen  of  Conaille,  who  were 
then  on  a  visit  with  a  magus,  the  second 
purchaser,  according  to  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life,  pp.  5  to  S. 

^:'  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  states, 
St.  Brigid  was  born  at  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
pp.  7,  S. 

5-'  In  Professor  O'Looney  Irish  Life,  it  is 
stated,  that  St.  Brigid's  breath  brought  the 
king's  son  to  life,  pp.  7,  8. 

-53  This  account  is  contained  in  the  Fourth 
Life.  We  are  told  by  Colgan,  that  it  is  to 
be  found,  also,  in  the  Irish  Life,  where  it  is 
stated,  the  infant  brought  to  life  was  a  son 
to  the  King  of  Conall,  and  this  child  was 
born  on  that  night,  previous  to  St.  Brigid's 
birth,  according  to  the  legend.  See  "Trias 
Thaumaturga."  Ouarta  YitaS.  Brigida-,  lib. 
i.,  cap.  vi.,  ]>.  547,  and  n.  12,  p.  564,  ibid. 

"54  This  is  accordant  with  a  statement  in 
Professor  O  Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 
pp.  7,  8. 

255  Jbid. 

256  "  Stepe  etiam  rutilis  tectorum  subdere 
fiammis 

Cernebant  fabricam,   parvce  et  cunabula 

Brigida?." — Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigi<ke,  sec. 

ii.,  p.  583.    Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

257  Ibid.  "  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae/'cap. 
v.,  p.  527.  "Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida.'," 
lib.  i.,  cap.  viii.,  ix. ,  p.  547.  In  the  latter 
life,  we  are  informed  about  the  reason  why 
the  magician  visited  the  province  of  Con- 
naught.  This  he  did  to  exercise  his  magic 
arts ;  for  which  purpose,  he  travelled  through 
that  district,  and  through  other  provinces, 
where  he  was  received  with  great  respect. 

'53  In  the  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint,  with  its 


usual  amplifications,  we  are  told,  St.  Brigid 
spoke,  before  that  natural  period  arrived, 
when  infants  usually  articulate.  Such  ac 
count,  hoVcver,  is  not  contained  in  her 
other  lives.  Colgan  refers  to  notes,  ap 
pended  to  St.  Fursey's  Life  at  the  i6th  of 
January,  and  to  other  particulars,  which 
serve  to  accompany  that  of  St.  Barr,  at  the 
25th  of  September,  for  parallel  instances  of 
children,  who  spoke  soon  after  their  birth, 
and  even  in  their  mother's  womb. 

:y  In  Wright's  "Louthiana,"  parti.,  p. 
9,  there  is  a  very  interesting  description  of 
certain  ancient  remains  in  this  locality.  Dr. 
Lanigan,  who  rejects  the  romantic  narrative 
of  St.  Brigid's  birth,  agrees  that  she  was 
born  in  Fochard.  lie  further  observes  : 
"  Whether  her  coming  into  the  world  in 
that  place  was  owing  to  her  parents  having 
had  a  residence  there,  or  to  their  being  on 
a  visit  at  some  friend's  house,  it  is  imma 
terial  to  enquire." — "  Ecclesiastical  History 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  II,  p. 
378,  and  n.  24,  p.  382,  ibid, 

160  St.  Brigid  was  patron  of  that  place, 
and  in  her  honour  a  monastery  of  Canons 
hri'l  been  established  there,  at  a  time  when 
the   Fourth   Life   had   been  written.      See 
Colgan's    "Trias"    Thaumaturga,"    Quarta 
Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  vi.,  p.  547. 

161  Foughart  is  a  parish  in  the  diocese  of 
Armagh. 

;62  St.  Bernard  in  his  "  Vita  S.  Malachiae" 
writes  ;  "  Venerunt  tres  Episcopi  in  villain 
Fochart,  quern  dicunt  locum  nativitatis 
Brigidoe  virginis,"  &c.,  cap.  xxv. ,  sec.  56. 

203  See  the  "  Parliamentary  Gazetteer  of 
Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  197,  198,  for  an  in 
teresting  account  of  this  parish. 


26  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


the  Barony  of  Upper  Dundalk,  County  of  Louth,  and  Province  of_Lemster. 
There  too  not  only  a  church  and  a  cemetery,  dedicated  to  St.  Bngid,  were 
to  be  seen  at  a  time  when  her  Fourth  Life  had  been  written ;  but,  according 
to  local  tradition,  they  were  situated  even  on  the  very  site  of  that  house,  in 
which  she  had  been  born.26*  This  latter  statement,  with  a  slight  emendation, 
is  probably  correct.  It  has  been  remarked,  that  the  allusion  to  a  monastery 
of  Canons  being  at  Foughart  shows  a  remote  antiquity  when  the  author  of 
her  Fourth  Life  flourished ;  for,  many  ages  back,  there  had  been  no  institute 
of  the  kind  discoverable,  nor  any  monastic  house,  specially  dedicated  to  St. 
Brigid,  at  least  from  the  period  of  the  eleventh  century.*  The  old  church 
site°of  Pochard  is  situated  between  the  town  of  Dundalk  and  the  church  of 
Kilslieve,266  being  about  two  miles  distant  from  either  place.  A  holy  woman, 
known  as  Monenna,26?  built  a  church  here,  at  a  very  early  period.26  The 
exact  situation  of  Fochard  has  been  misplaced  in  some  rccords.26s  In  the 
seventeenth  century,  this  little  village  was  called  by  the  Irish-speaking  peo 
ple  Fochart  Brighde,  or  "  Fochart  of  Brigid."2' 

In  the  three  previous  lives  of  our  Saint2?1  no  mention  is  made  concerning 
the  place  of  her  birth  ;  which  is  also  the  case,  in  the  two  latter  lives,  viz. : 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth.  Admitting,  however,  the  usually  assigned  place,  where 
the  illustrious  virgin  is  said  to  have  been  born,  it  seems  likely  enough,  that 
old  circular,  cone-shaped  Dun,2?2  which  rises  high2"  over  the  adjoining  fields 
on  the  very  summit  of  Foughart  Hill,  about  three  miles  north-west  of  Dun 
dalk,  supported  and  protected  the  house  of  Dubtach.2?*  A  circular  level  on 
the  top  was  40  feet  in  diameter,  and  around  the  circumference  appears  to 
have  extended  a  wide  breast-work  of  masonry,  laid  with  mortar.2^  At  the 
southern  sides,  when  broken,  the  foundations  were  clearly  traceable.  A  deep 


26«  At  the  rear  of  this  church,  the  local  other  Leinster  county,  it  seems  certain,  she 

habitants  pointed  out  that   identical  stone,  first   saw  light,    in   a   certain  village   called 

on   which,    it    was    traditionally    said,     St.  Fochart,  in  Louth  county,   in  Armagh  dio- 

Brigid    first    reposed    after    having     come  cese,     and    within    the    bounds    of   Ulster's 

into   the   world.      The   relic   was   held   in  ancient   province.      See  Ussher   "  De   Pri- 

especial   veneration    by  inhabitants    of  the  mordiis    Ecclesiarum    Britannicarum,"    pp. 

adjacent  country,   and    through   its   instru-  627,  705,   706.     Also,  _  David  Roth,  in  his 

mentality  many  miracles  were  reported  to  Dissertation  on  St.  Brigid,  p.  151,  and  an 

have  been  accomplished.  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  iii. 

265  Nothing    save    the   parish    church    at  7°  They  also  called  that  district,  in  which 
Fochart   was    known   in    Colgan's    time  to  it    was    situated,    Machaire    Airgiell.      See 
have  been  placed  under  her  special  invoca-  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Appendix 
tion.      See   "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Quarta  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  v.,  p.  617. 
Vita  S.  Brigidce,   lib.  i.,    cap.  vi.,   p.  547,  2?I  As  published  by  Colgan. 

and  nn.  13,  14,  p.  864,  ibid.  2?2  Thomas  Wright,  in  his  day,  correctly 

266  Some  ruins  of  a  church  are  still   re-  describes  it  as   "in  the  form  of  a  frustrum 
maining  at  Kilslieve,  but  these  are  devoid  of  a  cone."- -"Louthiana,"  book  i.,   p.  9. 
of  all   architectural   beauty.       See    "The  There  was  formerly  some  sort  of  octagonal 
History  of  Dundalk  and  its  Environs,"  by  building  upon  the  top,  but  whether  it  had 
John   D' Alton   and  J.  R.  O'Flanagan,  p.  been  a  tower  or  parapet  breast  high,  there 
279.  was  not  wall  enough  left  to   determine,    a 

'^  See  her  Life  at  the  6th  of  July.  little  after  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 

268 Conchobranus,  in  "Vita  S.  Monennce,"  2"  About  60  feet,    according  to  Wright, 

says,    that   this  holy   woman   first   built   a  but  it  is  certainly  of  a  lesser  altitude, 

church  at  Fochart,  where  the  nativity  of  St.  2?4  Two  curious  copper-plate  illustrations 

Brigid  took  place.  of  this  Dun,  with  the  shape  of  the  upper 

269  The  English  Martyrology,  at  the  1st  fort-like  works,  are  contained  on  Plate  xiv. 

of  February,    and    other  authorities,   state,  of  book  i.  in   "Louthiana." 

that  our  Saint  was  born  in  the  County  of  2?5  In  May,  1874,    the  writer  visited  this 

Kildare,    and   at   a   place    called    Fochart.  spot,  and  found  it  nearly  in  a  perfect  state, 

But  Fochart  is  not  within  the  limits  of  that  except  towards  the  south,  where  a  portion 

county.     However,    if  it   be   allowed,    St.  of  its  sides  had  been  removed  for  manure. 
Brigid  had  been  conceived  in  that,  or  in  any 


LIFE  Of  ST.  BRIGID. 


27 


circular  fosse  surrounded  the  lower  ascent  of  this  high  Dun,2?6  from  the  top 
of  which  a  magnificent  view  of  the  bay  and  town  of  Dundalk,  with  the 
sublime  crags  of  the  Carlingford  mountains,  extending  far  into  the  sea, 
towards  the  north  and  east,  can  be  obtained.27'  Near  this  Dun,  in  the 
townland  and  parish  of  Faughart,  on  the  very  summit  of  a  rising  hill,  are  the 
ruins  of  St.  Brig-id's  old  church. ^  The  entire  length  was  24  yards,  and  the 


Church  KUHU  at   Foughart,  Co.   Louth. 

breadth  7  yards  interiorly,  in  1836  ;  an  inside  gable  stood  at  a  distance  of 
about  10  yards  from  the  east  gable.27'  This  latter  was  demolished  to  within 
three  feet  of  the  ground,  in  the  middle  part,  the  sides  being  lower.  Only  a 
small  part  of  the  south  side-wall,  towards  the  east  gable,  stands. 2So  The 
remainder,  to  the  middle  gable,  was  levelled  with  the  ground.  The  north  side- 


276  Thomas  Wright  states,    "  in  all  proba 
bility,  it  may  originally  have  been  a  Funeral 
Monument,  and  in  latter  days  formed  into  a 
Beacon  or  Fort,  either  as  an  out  Guard  to 
defend  the  said  Frontier,"  (i. c. ,  of  the  old 
English  Pale),  "or  signify  the  Approach  of 
an  Enemy." — "  Louthiana,"  book  i.,  p.  9. 

277  Mr.  John  Craig,  who  rented  an  adjoin 
ing  farm,   told  the  writer,   that  in  the  field 
next  this  Dun,   while  ploughing,  the  hoofs 
of  a  horse  sunk   through  some   flag  stones. 
On  examination  of  the  spot,   a  remarkable 
zig-zag-shaped   earth-cave  was  discovered. 
After  removing  some  of  the  covering  stones, 
he  descended  into  it,  and  found  it  regularly 
walled  on  the  sides.     Barely  stooping,  he 
was  enabled  to  pass  through  it  for  several 
yards,   covering   flags  being  over  his  head. 
He   saw  several  specimens  of    "crockery 


ware,"  within  the  cave,  through  which  his 
further  progress  was  checked  by  its  being 
choked  by  earth  and  stones,  in  one  particu 
lar  place.  The  extent  of  these  remarkable 
caves,  he  pointed  out  to  the  writer,  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  above,  and  he  ex 
pressed  the  greatest  desire  that  they  should 
be  carefully  explored  by  gentlemen  com 
petent  to  describe  them. 

278  The  people  in  1836  called  it  CeV  pull 
-<\i|vo,  "  the  high  church,"  and  it  was  also 
designated  CCA'  pull  bfu'g'oe  n-A  li-dijvoe 
imnpe,  "  Brigid's  Church  of  the  great 
height." 

-~r)  This  inner  gable  has  since  fallen. 
Bo  The  accompanying  engraving  by  Wil 
liam  Oldham,   8  Gloucester-street,  Dublin, 
is  from  a  sketch  by  the  author,  and  taken  on 
the  spot,  in  May,  1874. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


wall  was  reduced  to  about  7  feet  in  height,  east  of  the  middle  gable.'8'  The 
western  length  to  the  middle  gable  was  about  14  yards;  the  side-walls 
height,  in  this  part,  is  about  14  feet.  On  the  south  side-wall  was  a  breach 
near  the  middle  gabled  The  west  gable  had  been  reduced  in  height  to 
the  level  of  the  side-walls  ;  while  there  is  a  breach  on  it,  reaching  from  top 
to  bottom,  about  3  yards  wide.  On  the  north  side-wall,  about  7  feet  from 
the  ground,  there  was  an  opening,  reaching  to  the  top.  Another  opening 
next  the  middle  gable,  was  to  be  seen,  and  about  the  same  height - 
This  ruinous  pile  of  masonry,  at  present,  is  in  a  very  dilapidated  condition. 

The  people  of  Foughart  neighbourhood2^  preserved  a  tradition,  that 
this  church  had  been  built  by  St.  Brigid— especially  the  eastern  part—- 
although  they  knew  not  that  here285  was  her  birthplace.28?  The  graveyard 
of  Foughart  is  still  much  used  for  interments.  The  base  of  an  old  cross  yet 
rises  over  the  graves.  This  last  resting-place  of  the  dead  is  intimately  asso 
ciated  with  the  invasion  of  Ireland  by  King  Robert  Bruce288  of  Scotland,2^ 
and  by  his  brother  Edward  Brucc,2y0  who  prosecuted  it  to  a  disastrous  issue.2"' 


281  About  a  yard  in  length  retained  the 
original  height  of  14  feet  towards  the  mid 
dle  ;  it  was  lower  towards  the  east  gable. 

283  In  1836,  seven  feet  from  the  ground 
was  an  opening  reaching  to  the  top. 

=8-*  The  foregoing  is  the  substance  of 
Messrs.  P.  O'Keefe's  and  T.  O'Conor's 
description  in  a  letter  dated  Dundalk,  Feb 
ruary  1 5th,  1836,  taken  from  "  Louth 
Letters,  containing  information  relative  to 
the  Antiquities  of  the  County,  collected 
during  the  Progress  of  the  Ordnance  Survey 
in  1835-1836,"  vol.  L,  pp.  285,  286. 

2gs  In  1836. 

-86  None  of  the  inhabitants  were  able 
then  to  assign  a  signification  for  the  word 


8?  A  few,  who  read  St.  Brigid's  Life, 
said  that  she  was  born  within  2^  miles  of 
Dundalk,  on  a  green  near  the  old  road, 
leading  from  the  latter  town  to  Newry. 
Then  tradition  had  it,  that  she  founded 
Foughart  Church,  where  she  remained  2.\ 
years,  before  she  went  to  the  nunnery  at 
Kildare.  Ibid,  pp.  286,  287. 

288  In  A.D.  1306,  this  heroic  chieftain  was 
forced  to  take  refuge  in  the  small  Island  of 
Rachlinn,  off  the  northern  coast  of  Antrim. 
In  the  spring  of  1306,  with  a  fleet  of  thirty- 
three  galleys  and  about  300  men,  he  sailed 
for  the  Scottish  coast,  "and  proceeded  on 
that  course  of  chivalrous  conquest  which  led 
to  the  establishment  of  his  country's  inde 
pendence  and  his  own  deathless  renown." 
About  700  of  the  northern  Irish  accompa 
nied  him  on  this  expedition,  and  these  were 
led  by  his  brothers,  Thomas  and  Alexander. 
See  Moore's  "  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  iii., 
chap,  xxxvi.,  p.  52. 

2fc9  The  reader  will  recollect  the  allusion 
to  his  taking  refuge  in  Ireland,  as  poetically 
recorded  in  Sir  Walter  Scott's  "  Lord  of 
the  Isles,"  canto  iii.,  sec.  xi. 

"  The  scheme,"  said  Bruce,   "contents  me 
well ; 


Meantime  'twere  best  that  Isabel 

For  safety,  with  my  bark  and  crew, 

Again  to  friendly  Erin  drew. 

There  Edward,  too,  shall  with  her  wend, 

In  need  to  cheer  her  and  defend, 

And  muster  up  each  scattered  friend." 


"9°  The  old  Scoto-Lnglish  poem,  "The 
Bruce  ;  or  the  Metrical  History  of  Robert  I. 
King  of  Scots,"  by  Master  John  Barbour, 
Archdeacon  of  Aberdeen,  contains  the  most 
detailed  account  of  Edward  Brace's  career 
in  Ireland,  in  Buke  Tend,  Buke  Eleuenth, 
Buke  Twelt,  vol.  i.,  pp.  277  to  368.  This 
is  published  from  a  Manuscript  dated 
M.CCCC.LXXXIX.  See  "The  Bruce;  and 
Wallace;"  edited  by  John  Jamieson,  D.D., 
with  notes,  biographical  sketches,  and  a 
glossary.  In  Two  Volumes.  Edinburgh, 
A.D.  1820,  410. 

^.That  brilliant  and  decisive  victory, 
achieved  by  the  Scots  over  the  English,  at 
Bannockburn,  in  1314,  and  to  which  allusion 
has  been  already  made  in  the  Life  of  St. 
Foilan,  at  the  gth  of  January,  had  awakened 
for  a  kindred  people  warm  sympathies, 
while  it  aroused  ambition  among  the  north 
ern  Irish  chieftains,  to  originate  some  effec 
tive  means  for  obtaining  national  indepen 
dence.  Proposing  to  Robert  Bruce  the 
propriety  of  making  his  brother,  Edward, 
king  of  Ireland,  they  agreed  to  rally  round 
the  latter,  immediately  on  his  arriving  in 
their  country.  As  Edward  had  already 
demanded  a  share  in  the  sovereignty  of 
Scotland,  King  Robert  eagerly  inclined  to 
the  expressed  wishes  of  these  Irish  chiefs, 
and  made  every  preparation  to  organize  a 
military  and  naval  expedition,  destined  for 
the  coasts  of  Ireland.  Accordingly,  on  the 
26th  of  May,  13151  Edward  Bruce  landed 
on  the  shores  of  Antrim,  with  a  fleet  of  300 
sail  and  an  army  of  Scots,  estimated  at  6,000 
men.  Immediately  on  his  arrival,  the  Irish 
of  Ulster  hastened  in  great  numbers  to  fight 
under  his  standard.  With  united  forces, 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


29 


A  hollow   space   between   Faughart  hill    and    Carrickbroad-^2   is   pointed 
out    as    the    spot    where    Bruce   was    killed,293    in    that    last    desperate 


the  Scots  and  Irish  overran  the  whole  pro 
vince  of  Ulster,   within  an  incredibly  short 
period.      Dundalk,  Ardee,  with  some  other 
places  in  Louth,  were  taken  and  demolished 
by  the  invading  forces  and  their  allies.     To 
oppose    them,    J  )e    Burgo,    earl    of    Ulster, 
raised  a  large  army,   chietly  in  Connaught. 
He   formed  a   junction   with    Sir    Edmond 
Butler,    the    lord   justice.      The    Scots    and 
Iri>h    crossed    the    river    Bann,    when  they 
gave  battle  to  the  Earl  of  Ulster,  at  Connor. 
Here  the   Anglo-Irish   leader  was  defeated, 
and  afterwards  he  was  forced  to  fly  for  pro 
tection  towards  the  western  province.      Ed 
ward  Bruce,  who  had  already  caused  himself 
to  be  proclaimed  king  of  Ireland,  next  be 
sieged   the    castle    of   Carrickfergus,    where 
some    of   the    defeated    English  'had    taken 
refuge.      Hruce  spent  some  time  endeavour 
ing  to  reduce  the  stronghold  of  Carrickfer- 
gus  ;    yet,    at    last    he    raided    the    siege    to 
proceed   southwards,    through    the    midland 
counties  of  Leinster.      His  advance  caused 
the  rising  ()f  various   native  septs  ;  but  the 
prevalence  of  famine  at  this    time   obliged 
the    Scottish   leader   to    retire  upon   Ulster. 
At   the   town   of    Kclls,    he  gave   battle    to 
15,000  English,  under  the  command  of  Sir 
Roger  Mortimer,   who  suffered  an  ignomi 
nious  defeat.     Illicit".,   King  Robert  Bruce 
landed  in  Ireland  with  a  great  army  to  assist 
his  brother  Edward,  and  with  united  forces 
the  garrison  of  Carrickfergus,  after  a  brave 
and   protracted  defence,    was   compelled   to 
surrender.      Robert  liruce,  accompanied  by 
a  large  army  of  Scots  and   Irish,  advanced 
to  Dublin,  where  he  arrived  about  the  close 
of  February,  1317.     The  Anglo-Irish  deni 
zens  were   in  a   state   of  consternation,   but 
lost  no  time  in  making  energetic  preparations 
for  defence.     The  English  and  Irish  appear 
to   have   been  almost    equally   demorali/ed 
and    disorganized,    during    the    progress    of 
these  transactions.     The  suburbs  of  Dublin 
were  burnt  down  by  the  citi/ens,  to  prevent 
their  invaders  from  finding  there  a  shelter 
on  approaching.      Richard,"  Earl  of  Ulster, 
now    advanced    in    years,    was    arrested  on 
suspicion   of  having  favoured   the  cause  of 
J'.ruce,  whilst  DeLacy  joined  his  forces  with 
the  Scots  and  Irish.     King  Robert  Bruce, 
however,     on    finding    the     metropolis    so 
strongly  fortified  and  so  resolutely  defended 
by  its    Anglo-Irish   garrison,    deemed    it  a 
useless  waste  of  time  and  valour  to  attempt 
its  reduction  by  the  slow  process  of  a  siege. 
Conducting  his   army   southwards   through 
Kildare,  Kilkenny,  Tipperary  and  Limerick, 
he  burned  and  plundered  the  English  foun 
dations,    civil    and    ecclesiastical,    wherever 
he  passed.     Famine,  pressing  sorely  on  this 
desolated   country,    disconcerted   his  plans. 
Although  the  English  mustered  a  force  of 


30,000  men  to  surprise  and  harass  the  King 
of  Scotland,  they  did  not,  however,  venture 
to  risk  a  decisive  engagement  with  him. 
About  the  commencement  of  May,  Robert 
liruce  was  obliged  to  retreat  upon  Ulster, 
lie  soon  afterwards  set  sail  for  Scotland, 
leaving  his  brother  Edward  to  sustain  the 
cause,  in  which  his  fortunes  were  embarked. 
This  retreat  of  the  Scots  and  Irish,  into  the 
northern  province,  allowed  the  English  an 
opportunity  for  making  many  successful 
diversions  around  the  borders  of  their  own 
settlements.  In  the  year  1318,  Edward 
liruce  raised  a  small  army,  with  which  he 
advanced  to  Eoughart,  near  Dundalk. 
Here  he  was  opposed  and  defeated  by  John 
Birmingham,  at  the  head  of  an  English 
force,  which  had  marched  from  Dublin. 
See  the  Author's  "Catechism  of  Irish  His 
tory,"  lesson  xv.,  pp.  153  to  158. 

Some  written  accounts  state,  that  Ed 
ward  Bruce's  body  had  been  divided  into 
quarters,  and  had  been  sent  for  exhibition 
all  over  the  country.  See  Moore's  "  His 
tory  of  Ireland,''  vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxxvi.,  p. 
71.  I  his,  however,  does  not  appear  to  be 
confirmed  on  any  good  authority,  and  the 
local  tradition  is  prokibly  correct,  that  the 
headless  body  had  been  buried  in  Foughart 
graveyard.  Near  this  cemetery,  the  inha 
bitants  point  out  a  spot,  where  Bruce's 
horse  was  buried,  and  it  is  said,  the  bones 
of  this  animal  were  even  discovered,  on 
digging  for  them. 

';'lhe  Rev.  Dr.  Drummond's  Poem, — 
of  no  special  merit,  however, — and  intituled, 
"Bruce's  Invasion  of  Ireland,"  describes 
the  progress  of  the  Scottish  leader,  and  his 
linal  defeat.  An  idea  of  its  measure  and 
style  may  be  gleaned  from  the  following 
lines,  relating  to  the  mustering  of  Irish 
chiefs  and  tribes  to  his  standard  : — 

Blood-royal  O'Connor  his  infantry  guides 

From  regions  beyond  where  the  'broad 
Shannon  glides  ; 

Creat  monarch  of  streams,  that  from  up 
land  and  dell, 

And  a  thousand  steep  mountains,  his  wide 
current  swell  ; 

By  cities,  lakes,  forests,  and  fields  rich 
with  grain, 

Sweeping  on  with  his  sail-covered  tides 
to  the  main." 

"  With  these  comes  O'Mailey,  well-versed 

in  sea-wiles, 
The  lord  of  Craig-Uilc,  a  prince  of  the 

isles  ; 
Of  th'  Arrans,  where  health-wafting  gales 

ever  blow, 
And  Bovin,  with  fat  lowing  herds,  white 

as  snow, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


battle,  which  he  fought  on  the  i4th  of  October,  A.D.  1318,'*  at  Foughart.  * 
Many  of  his  chieftains  and  soldiers,  Irish  and  Scots,  fell  in  this  short  but 
decisive  conflict.2*6  Although  during  the  course  of  three  years,2*?  pending 
which  lie  waged  war  in  Ireland,  Edward  Bruce  had  encountered  the  English 
armies  in  eighteen  successive  and  victorious  battles,2*8  their  great  numerical 
superiority  at  the  battle  of  Foughart  caused  victory  to  favour  the  arms  ot 
England  from  the  very  first  onset.2**  From  the  south-west  corner  < 
church,  and  removed  about  four  yards,  the  grave  of  Edward  Bruce  is  shown.3 
The  authentication,  however,  is  only  sustained  by  a  popular  tradition. 
About  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  St.  Brigid's  Stone,  having  a  raised 
work  about  it  in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe,  was  to  be  seen  at  Foughart. 3«  In 
the  middle  was  a  rough  rocky  flint,  on  which  with  bared  knees  penitents 
were  accustomed  to  kneel.  Raised  upon  two  circular  and  concentric  steps 
was  elevated  St.  Brigid's  pillar. ^  Only  the  circular  stones  are  now  noticeable 
within  the  graveyard^  These  are  singularly  suggestive  of  having  been  the 
base  of  a  round  tower.  The  burial-ground  is  well  enclosed  with  a  fine 
fence  and  a  quick-set  hedge  of  grown  hawthorns.  It  rises  high  over  the 
adjacent  fields.  North-west  of  the  old  church,  and  within  the  graveyard 
enclosure,  is  shown  "  St.  Brigid's  Well."3°4  It  was  dried  up,3°s  when  visited 


And  a  thousand  green  islets,  with  foam 

girdled  bright, 
Like  gems  chased  in  silver,  and  glistening 

in  light." 

"  As  birds  to  the  prey  that  come  rushing 

from  far, 
They  speed  to  enjoy  the  grand  pastime  of 

war  ; 
Proud  Flaiths  on  whose  helmets  gemmed 

coronets  shine  ; 
Proud  Tanists  with  baldrics  enriched  by 

the  mine." 

This  Poem  was  issued  in    a    small    I2mo 
volume,  at  Dublin,  in  1826. 

294  According  to  John  Fordun's  "  Scoti- 
chronicon,"  vol.   ii.,  lib.  xii.,  cap.  xxxvii. , 
p.  271,  Walter  Goodall's  Edition. 

295  Authors  differ  greatly  in  their  account 
both  of  the  numbers  engaged,   and  of  those 
who  fell.     Barbour,  whose  object  it  was  to 
pay  all  possible  honour  to  the  valour  of  his 
countrymen,    says  that   Brace's    army   con 
tained  about  2,000  men,  not  including  his 
Irish  auxiliaries  ;  and  that  they  Were  oppo 
sed  by  the  overwhelming  multitude  of  40,000. 
Bruce,  at  his  landing,  had  6,000  men,  and 
he  afterwards  received  reinforcements  from 
Scotland.     Now,  though  he  sustained  some 
loss   from    the    sword,    famine,    and    other 
casualties  of  war,  it  is  scarcely  credible  that 
his  forces  were  reduced  to  one-third.     The 
Irish  annals  compute  his  numbers  at  3,000  ; 
but  Ware  says  that  8,274  fell  in  the  field, 
and  that   they  were  opposed  by  only  1,324 
men-at-arms.     Walsingham  states  the  num 
ber  of  the  slain  to  be  5,800,  besides  29  barons 
and  knights.     The  Anglo-Irish  army  is  not 
said  to  have  sustained  any  loss  beside  that 
of  Maupus.     See  "Brace's  Invasion  of  Ire 
land,"  note  viii.,  pp.  113,  114. 


196  Relative  to  the  issue  of  this  battle,  we 
are  told  in  "The  Bras,"  writ  be  Master 
Johne  Barbour  :  — 

"  And  tha  that  at  the  fkhting  wer 
Socht  Schir  Eduard  to  get  his  hed 
Emang  the  folk  that  thar  was  ded." 

—  Sec.  cxxxn.,  11.  200  to  202.  The  Spald- 
ing  Club  Edition,  edited  by  C.  Innes,  p. 
423.  Aberdeen,  1856,  4to. 

-97  An  interesting  account  of  this  Irish 
expedition  of  the  Braces  is  given  in  Sir  Da 
vid  Dalrymple's  (Lord  Hailes')  "  Annals  of 
Scotland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  60  to  82.  Edin 
burgh,  A.D.  1776,  1779,  4to. 

^  See  Barbour'  s  "Bruce,"  book  xii. 

299  See  Thomas  Moore's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxxvi.,  p.  70. 

3°°  In  1836,  his  tomb  was  pointed  out  on 
the  west  end  of  the  grave  ;  the  remainder 
being  concealed  in  the  ground.  Then  it  lay 
nearly  horizontal,  but  sinking  slightly  to 
the  east  side.  It  was  said  to  have  been 
covered  by  notches,  one  of  which  was  then 
visible. 

301  This  object  seems  to  have  disappeared. 

3°-  Thomas  Wright  informs  us,  that  the 
nuns  of  the  convent  used  to  go  upon  their 
knees  on  particular  occasions  ;  sometimes 
around  the  lesser  and  sometimes  around  the 
larger  circles,  as  their  penitence  required. 
See  "  Louthiana,"  book  iii.,  p.  19. 

303  Views  of  all  the  foregoing  curious  ob 
jects  are  preserved  for  us  in  Plate  xx.,  book 
iii.,  of  Wright's  "  Louthiana,"  while  in 
addition  there  is  a  ground  plan  of  St. 
Brigid's  quadrangular  church  in  the  grave 
yard. 


3°s  This,  we  were  told,  was  the  result  of 
some  previous  desecration. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


by  the  writer,^5  but  a 
pyramidical  structure  of 
stone  and  mortar,  over  a 
square  aperture,  remain 
ed.  3°?  It  is  on  a  sloping 
part  of  the  burial- 
ground,  and  surrounded 
by  thickly-matted  thorn 
bushes. 

In  the  Parish  of 
Foughart,  there  are  five 
remarkable  Moats. 
Three308  of  these  are  on 
the  townland  of  Upper 
Faughart ;  another  Moat 
is  in  Lower  Faughart,  3°9 
while  one  is  onRoskeagh 
townland.310 

All  writers  are  agreed, 
that  St.  Brigid's  birth 
cannot  be  very  distantly 
removed  from  the  mid 
dle  of  the  fifth  century. 
But  authorities  differ  as 
to  the  exact  date.  Some 
writers — as  for  instance 
the  Bollandists3" — place 
it  so  early  as  the  year 
436  or  437. 312  The 
"  Annals  of  Dublin " 
and  the  "  Annals  of 
Ross,3'3  with  Friar  John 
1*  and  Dr.  Mere- 


Si..  Brigid's  Well,   Faughart. 


306  In  May,  1874. 

307  The    accompanying    illustration    was 
drawn  on  the  spot  by  V.  George  Du  Noyer, 
and  transferred  to  wood  from  his  sketches 
in  the  R.  I.  A.  by  Gregor  Grey,  of  Dublin, 
who  also  engraved  it. 

:i°8  One  is  called  111  OCA  VACA^C  ;  another 
is  denominated  ITIocA  «.\n  c-feAn  •ouinc  ; 
while  the  other  has  no  distinguishing  name. 

309  This  is  called  1U\c  p,ileAft. 

310  This  is  styled  111  OCA  1U\c  fJoAr.     Sec 
"  Louth    Letters,     containing     Information 
relative   to  the  Antiquities  of  the   County, 
collected  during  the  Progress  of  the  Ordnance 
Survey  in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i.,  p.  294. 

311  Tillemont  properly  remarks,  they  had 
no  sufficient  grounds  for  their  statements  or 
conjectures.     These  they  were  obliged    to 
adopt,   because  they  supposed   St.    Brigid 
had  interviews  with  St.  Patrick,  and  that  he 
had  requested  her  to  weave  a  shroud  for 
him. 

312  This  circumstance  of  St.  Brigid  weav 
ing   St.    Patrick's  shroud  is    assigned    by 


Henschenius   and    Papebrochius,    to    A.  i>. 

458,  to  make  it  accord  with  their  hypothesis 
regarding  St.  Patrick's  death  occurring,  as 
they  suppose,  in  460.  Their  predecessor 
Bollandus,  who  admitted  the  circumstance, 
relating  to  friendship  existing  between  St. 
Patrick  and  St.  Brigid  ("  Acta  Sanctorum, 
Februarii,"  torn.  i. ,  i.  Februarii),  was  not 
obliged  to  antedate  St.  Brigid's  birth.  For, 
with  Ussher,  he  supposed  the  former  to 
have  lived  until  the  year  493.  "Now  the 
successors  of  Bollandus,  when  they  rejected 
this  date,  should  have  rejected  also  what 
has  been  said  about  the  shroud,  &c.,  and 
thus  would  not  have  been  reduced  to  assign, 
in  opposition  to  the  best  authorities,  her 
birth  to  the  time  above  mentioned,  and  her 
death  to  506  or  517."  See  Dr.  Lanigan's 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  p.  378,  and  n.  25,  pp. 
382,  383,  ibid. 

313  See  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesi- 
arum  Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii. ,  p.  459. 

3M  See  this  Tract  of  his  published  by  the 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


dilh  Hanmer,3'5  have  439.  Another  calculation  should  make  her  first  sec  the 
light  in  443-316  The  "  Annals  of  Roscrea"  note  this  event  at  A.D.  449-31.7  .  A 
judicious  Irish  historian  considers,  that  including  A.D.  451  and  458,  St.  Bngid's 
birth  must  have  occurred  at  some  time  within  such  era.  Following  Ussher  s 
computation,  affixing  her  birth  to  A.D.  453, 3l8  Dr.  Lanigan  appears  to_concur. 
The  "  Annals  of  Cambrian's  date  it  at  A.D.  454.  The  "  Annals  of  Imsfallen 
give  A.D.  456  in  the  opinion  of  some  writers.320  In  the  "Annals  of  Senat 
Mac  Magnus,"  said  to  have  been  compiled  by  Charles  Maguire,  authors  are 
cited  for  assigning  the  holy  Virgin's  birth  to  A.D.  45 7. 321  Henry  of  Marl- 
borough  brings  this  event  to  so  late  a  period  as  468. 322 

According  to  his  computation,  St.  Brigid  was  only  twelve  years  of  age, 
when  St.  Patrick  died,  if  we  adopt  Dr.  Lanigan's  opinion  ;  and  the  same 
writer  supposes,  our  Saint  might  have  been  known  to  the  Apostle  of  Ireland, 
at  a  very  early  age,  in  consequence  of  her  singular  sanctity  having  become 
conspicuous,  and  as  she  was  derived  from  an  illustrious  family.  But,  it  is 
thought,  she  could  not  have  become  a  professed  nun  at  that  time,  nor  have 
already  founded  any  religious  house.323  During  St.  Patrick's  lifetime, 
according  to  the  most  consistent  and  authentic  acts  of  both  Saints,  the  same 
historian  remarks,  that  Brigid  is  not  represented  as  having  been  a  consecrated 
Virgin.  However  minute,  in  all  matters  relating  to  St.  Patrick,  his  Tripartite 
Life  only  mentions  St.  Brigid  on  one  occasion. ^  There  it  is  related,  that, 
when  listening,  together  with  a  vast  number  of  people,  to  a  sermon  of  his, 
she  fell  asleep  and  had  a  vision  relative  to  the  then  state  of  the  Irish  Church 
and  to  its  future  vicissitudes,  as  expounded  by  St.  Patrick.  He,  knowing 
that  she  had  a  vision,  desired  her,  after  she  awoke,  to  tell  what  she  saw. 
The  Saint  replied,  that  at  first  she  beheld  a  herd  of  white  oxen  amidst  white 
crops,  then  spotted  ones  of  various  colours,  after  which  appeared  _black  and 
dark-coloured  oxen.  These  were  succeeded  by  sheep  and  swine,  wolves 
and  dogs  jarring  with  each  othcr.325  There  appears  to  be  no  good  reason 

Irish  Archaeological  Society.  "  Quadrin-  3"  So  states  Us.sher  in  "Britannicarum 

gentesimo  39°.  Nascitur  beata  virgo  Bri-  Kcclesiarum  Antiquitates,"cap.  xvii.,  p-459- 

gicla." — "  Annales  Hiberniffi,"  p.  4.  However,  in  Henry  Marleburrough's 

'  3<5  In  his  "  Chronicle  of  Ireland,"  p.  89.  "Chronicle  of  Ireland,"  as  published  by  the 

Other  writers  assume  the  same  date,  as  in  Ilibernia  Press  Company,  410,  in  1809,  we 

"  Vetusto  libro  Chromellice,"  quoted  by  find  no  such  notice,  and  there  his  Chronicle 

Ussher.  See  " Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  commences  with  A.D.  1285,  ending  with 

Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  459.  A.D.  1421. 

3l6  Colgan  remarks,  that  according  to  an  3*3  "  The  lowest  age,  which  I  find  to  have 

opinion,  not  improbable,  St.  Brigid  lived  to  been  allowed  in  those  times  in  any  part  of 

be  eighty  years.  Hence,  as  it  is  very  the  Church  for  taking  the  veil,  was  that_  of 

generally  supposed,  she  died  on  February  16  or  17  years.  (St.  Basil,  Ep.  Canotnca, 

1st,  A.D.  523,  her  birth  must  naturally  be  can.  18.)  The  African  Canons  fixed  it  at 

referred  to  A.D.  443.  See  "Trias  Thau-  25;  and  this  regulation  became  very  general 

maturga,"  Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  in  the  "Western  Church.  Yet  even  in  the 

Brigidiie,  cap.  ix.,  p.  620.  countries  where  it  was  received,  it  might 

31?  See  ibid,  have  been  dispensed  with  in  certain  cases. 

318  See    "Index  Chronologicus,"  at  A.D.  (See   Gilbert,    Corp.   J.    Can.,   torn,    ii.,  p. 
CCCCLIII.,  p.  520.  410)-" — L>r.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 

319  The    "Annales   Cambria:,"   supposed  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  II, 
by  the  editor,  Rev.  John  Williams  ab  Ithel,  n.  27,  p.  383. 

to  be  perhaps  the  oldest  chronicle  of  Welsh  3=4  gee  Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 

affairs  extant,  places  her  birth  at  A.D.  454.  Scptima  Vita  S.  Fatricii,  lib.  iii.,   cap.  iv., 

See  Preface,  p.  ix.  and  p.  3.  pp.  149,   150. 

320  See    "Annales    Inisfalcnses,"    p.    3,  3=5  See  also  Jocelyn's,  or    Sexta  Vita  S. 
tomus  ii.    Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni-  Fatricii,  cap.  xciv.,  xcv.,   Colgan's   "Trias 
carum  Scriptores."  Thaumaturga,"  pp.  86,  87.      Dr.  Lanigan 

321  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"       adds  :—"  In  this  narrative  there  is  nothing 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidce,   cap.       repugnant   to   the  ways   of  the   Almighty, 
ix.,  p.  620.  who  has  been  often  pleased  to  impart  to 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  33 

for  admitting,  that  during  the  illustrious  Apostle's  life-time,  St.  Erigid  had 
been  abbess  of  a  monastery,  nor  concerning  her  having  woven  that  shroud 
in  which  St.  Patrick's  body  was  enveloped  after  death,  and  at  his  own  parti 
cular  request. 3*  Still  more,  it  must  be  observed,  that  neither  Co^itosus 
nor  the  author  of  the  first  or  of  the  fifth  Life,  has  a  single  word  about  it. 
What  is  very  remarkable,  moreover,  these  never  once  mention  St.  Patrick 
notwithstanding  the  care,  with  which  they  collected  whatever  could  redound 
to  the  honour  of  St.  Erigid.  Had  she  enjoyed  those  frequent  interviews,  or 
kept  up  a  correspondence  with  St.  Patrick,  or  attended  him  at  his  death,  it 
is  scarcely  possible,  that  those  writers,  who  are  evidently  her  most  ancient 
biographers,  should  have  been  quite  silent  on  such  material  points. 

From  her  very  childhood,  we  are  told,  she  had  been  accustomed  to  an 
excellent  course  of  instruction  ;  and,  as  she  grew  up,  this  holy  maiden  pre 
sented  each  day  some  fresh  proof  of  religious  decorum  and  modesty.  In 
all  things,  she  conformed  to  the  inspirations  of  I  )ivine  Grace.  Her  very  name 
seemed  pre-ordained  to  indicate  her  future  spiritual  stated  The  story  is 
told  of  her,  that  when  she  was  a  mere  child,  playing  at  holy  things,  she  got 
a  smooth  slab  of  stone  which  she  tried  to  set  up  as  a  little  altar ;  then  a 
beautiful  angel  joined  in  her  play,  and  made  wooden  legs  to  the  altar,  and 
bored  four  holes  in  the  stone,  into  which  the  legs  might  be  driven,  so  as  to 
make  it  stand.32  Such  legends  as  these— although  inexactly  preserved— 
usually  attest  a  life  of  virtue,  from  the  cradle  to  the"  grave. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    SCOTCH    CLAIM    TO   ST.     BRIGID's    BIRTH    EXAMINED— PROBABLE    ORIGIN    OF    THIS 
ERROR— REFUTATION  — EARLY     AM)     ST  I'l.KN  ATCKAI.      INDICATIONS     OF     URIGID's 

SANCTITY— HER    SPIRIT     OF     ]'K<  )I'I  I  KC  V     MAM  FKSTED— HF.R     INFANTILE    VIRTUES 

HER  PROBABLE  ACQUAINTANCE  WITH  ST.  PATRICK  DURING  CHILDHOOD— HER  RE 
SOLUTION  TO  LIVE  A  VIRGIN  — HER  CHARACTERISTICS  AND  COMPARISON  TO  THK 
BLESSED  VIRGIN  MARY  HY  THE  IRISH. 

IT  must  appear  strange,  at  the  present  day,  to  understand,  that  some  of  the 
mediaeval  Scotch  chroniclers  and  historians  reputed  St.  Erigid  to  have  been 
a  native  of  modern  Scotland.  This  idea  probably  arose  from  the  fact,  that 
ancient  writers  of  her  Acts  stated  her  having  been  born,  her  having  lived,  and 


J'.nfans  f,-M»\-s,   what  may   we  not  expect 

held  from  the  learned  and  wise  of  this  world.  from  the  omnipotence  of  God  in  the  order 
It  was  thus  that  while  the  chief  priests  and  of  grace?"— "  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire- 
scribes  remained  in  their  infidelity,  the  chil-  land,"   vol.  i.,   chap.   viii.,   n.   28    pp.  383 
dren  cried  out,  Hosanna  to  the  Sot  cf  David,  384. 

through  a  Divine  impulse,  as  appears  from  -°  This  circumstance  is  mentioned,  in  the 

our    Saviour's   answer    to    those  wiseacres;  Tertia  Vita  S.   Brigidrc,   cap.  lx.,   p.   534; 

''And  they  said  to  him  ;  hearest   thou  what  in  the  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 

these  say/     Jesus  replied;     Yes:    have  you  xxx.,   p.    554;    and  in  the    Sexta   Vita    S. 

never  read,  that  out  of  the  month  of  injants  Brigidre,  sec.  xlvi.,  p.  592. 
and  sucking  babes  tJwu  hast  perfected  praise?  "So   Laurence'  of   Durham  appears   to 

Matt.  xxi.  1 6.     St.  Brigid  might  have  been  think  ;  while  Colgan  remarks,   that  Brigh, 

at  that  time  ten  or  eleven  years  old,  an  age  meaning   "virtue,"   is  likely  to  have  been 

fully  sufficient  to  render  her  in  the  hands  of  the  original  Irish  source  for  the  name  Brigida 

God,   an   instrument   fit   for  displaying    the  or    Brigid.       See     "Trias    Thaumaturga," 

wonderful  effects  of  1 1  is  grace  and  II  is  know-  Ouinta  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  cap.  viii.,  and  n. 

ledge  of  all  things.     If  in  what  is  called  the  10,  pp.  569,  640. 

order  of  nature  we  find  so  many  children  of  *  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "  Lives  of 

extraordinary  precocity  in  learning,  so  many  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  i,  p.  17. 

D 


,4  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


her  having  died  in  Scotia.     Yet  by  such  term,  those  do  not  refer  to  any  other 
country  except  our  own  island.    Among  Scottish  authors,  who  claim  our  illus 
trious  patroness  as  their  countrywoman,  may  be  specially  mentioned  John 
Major1  and  Hector  Boece.2     Both  Camerarius-'  and  Dempster*  assert,  that  she 
was  born  and  that  she  died,  in  Albania  or  British  Scotia.    1 1  has  been  generally 
advanced  by  old  writers,  that  she  was  of  Scottish  race.     Thus,  George  Garn- 
teld  s  or  Garnefelt,  Antonio  Possevino,6  Raphael  Yolaterranus,?  Sigebert  Gem- 
blacensis8  and  Marianus*  write.   That  St.  Hrigid  was  born  in  Scotia  is  an  opinion 
formed  by  Antonius  Sabellicus,-  by  Petrus  de  Natalibus,"  and  by  a  writer 
of  the  general  Chronicles  of  the  World.     Sigebert  tells  us,  she  died  in  the 
same  country  at  the  year  578,  and  the  Chronicle,  entitled,   "Rudimentum 
Novitiorunv"  has  her  death  at  A.D.  520.     Her  Natalis,  indeed,  has  been  oh 
served  in  Scotia,  on  the  ist  of  February.     This  may  be  found  among  nearly 
all  Ila-iologists  and  Martyrologists.     It  is  noted  in  the  Roman  Martyrplogy, 
and  in  the  Martyrologies  of  T.ede,  Usuard,  Ado,  Viennen.,  Rodulphus  Riyius, 
and  the   Carthusian  ^Martyrology.     Galesinus  and  many  other  writers   both 
Irish  and  forei-ni,  allow,  that  our  saint  was  a  native  ot  Scotia.     \  et,  although 
this  be  admitted,  it  will   not   follow,  however,  that  St.  Brigid  was  born  in 
British  Scotia,  or  that  her  ancestors  were  natives  of  that  country.  ^  On   the 
contrary,  evidence  is  afforded,  that  the  island  known  as  Hiberma,  had  been 
called  Scotia,  by  ancient  writers  of  every  condition,  age,  and  nation."     ^\  e 
are  told,  that  previous  to  the  eleventh  century,  no  one  thought  of  calling  that 
part  of  Britain,  now  known  as   Scotland,  by  the   name  ot   Scotia.     \\  nters 
usually  called  it  Albania.    All  who  mentioned  Scotia  to  the  period  designated 
understood  Scotia  as  applicable  to  an  island,1-  situated  between  Britain  and 
Spain.1*     If  all  other  arguments  were  wanting  in  support  of  such  a  position, 
various  passages,  foumfin  the  old  acts  of  St.  Brigid,  should  be  sufficient  _  to 
establish  it.    For  by  birth  and  descent,  this  holy  virgin  was  evidently  a  native 
of  Ireland  ;  she  died  there  ;  and  she  was  particularly  venerated  in  our  island. 


CHAr   ii— '  See  "IlistoriaMajoris  r>ri-  Dempster  to  have,    "in   memlicabulis   re- 

tannue,  tarn  Anglic,  quam  Scotia>,"  lib.  ii.,  pressis   Hibernorum,"   vindicated   our   ht. 

cap.  xiv.,  \\  85.     Edinburgh  edition,  A.D.  Brigid's  fame  for  Scotland. 

1740,"  4to.  5  s"  "  De  vita  Eremitica,    p.  223. 

2  See     "Scotorum     Historic,     a     prhna  5  See  "  Apparatus  bacer,     p.  252. 

gent  is   origine,"  £c.,    lib.    ix.,   fol.    clxiiii.  ?  Commentariorum.     Ad  annum  521,  hh. 

Prelum  Ascensianum,  fol.  xxu,  p.  035. 

3  See  "  IV  Statu  llominis,  Veteris  simul  s  See  "  Chronicon,     ad  annum  516.      bee 
ac  nov;-e  Keclesi.v,   et    Inhdelium  Conver-  "  Monumenta  Germanias  Histonca,    tomus 
sione,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  see.  ii.    Camerarius  vi.,  p.  314.                        _ 

cites  many  authorities,  yet  these  only  prove  9  In   his    "Chronicle     at  A.D.  521,  ttod., 

she  was  a    "  Vir^o  Seota."     Among  such       tomus  v.  

authorities  are  quoted,  Rodulphus  de  Breda,  I0  See  " /Enead,    vui.,  lib.  n.              __ 

Tungrensis  Diaconus  "  In  Calendario  Gene-  "See   "Catalogus  Sanctorum,    lib.  m., 

rali."    Massivus,    "In    Clironico,"   lib.   xii.  cap.  Ixix. 

Franciscus   Rosier    "  Stemmatum    l.othar-  =  Almost  the  sole  exception  is  Dempster. 

inguv,"  tomus  iii.     Gualterius,  "  In  Chrono-  With  his  follower   Camerarius,   that  unac- 

loi,'io."    Genebrardus   "In   C'hronieo."    Ri-  countable  chronographer  and  chorographer 

badeneira  "  In  Vitis  Sanctorum."     IVlrio,  maintains  an  opposite  opinion  with  a  fantasy 

"Disquisis.  Magic,"  tomus  ii.,  lib.  iv.      fa-  peculiar  to  himself. 

cobus  Gretserus  in  his  preface  to    "Com-  '-'This  Colgan  promised  to  prove  from 

mentar.  Exegetici  in  Serenissimum  Jacobum  ancient  and  modern  writers,   belonging  to 

Magnx     Britannia)     Regem.''      Theuetus  every  age  and  nation,  in  a  volume  where  he 

"  Cosmog,"  lib.  xvi.,   in" his  description  of  intended  to  illustrate  solely  the  ecclesiastical 

Scotia.    'See  pp.  140,  141.  antiquities  of  Ireland.    This  work,  however, 

4  See  "  Ilistoria  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Sco-  he  did  not  live  to  publish. 

torum,"  tomus  i.,  lib.  ii.,  p.  82.     Edinburgh  I4  In  accord  with  a  prevailing  geographical 

edition,    1829,    410.     Camerarius   supposes  notion  of  the  early  and  middle  ages. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BR1GID. 


35 


Hence,  as  a  consequence,  when  ancient  writers  mention  her  country  as  Scotia, 
it  is  certain  they  must  have  meant  Ireland. 

Dempster  most  strangely  asserts,  that  St.  Brigid  was  born  in  Laudonia,  a 
province  of  Albanian  Scotia.^  Now,  by  St.  Columkille,  Apostle  of  Al 
banian  Scotia,  and  patron  of  Scotia  Major  or  Hibernia,  she  is  called  our 
Saint  of  Lagenia.  It  may  be  objected,  with  Dempster,  that  when  writers 
treat  about  St.  Brigid  and  her  parents,  the  word  Lagenia  or  Lageniensis  are 
everywhere  incorrectly  used  for  Laudenia,  Ladenensis  or  Laudianensis.'6 
Hut  this  is  clearly  a  foolish  and  blind  subterfuge.  Can  he  find  in  this 
Laudenia,  Kildare,  Campus  Leiffe,  Campus  Gessille,  Campus  Bregh,  with 
many  other  Irish  names  and  places,  which  as  the  author  of  her  Third  Life1? 
relates  are  in  St.  Brigid's  country,  and  which  are  well  known  to  be  situated 
within  the  Irish  province  of  Leinster  ?  Can  he  find,  in  his  Scotia,  the  town 
Macha  or  Armagh,  the  ecclesiastical  metropolis  of  Ireland,  or  the  great  river 
Sinann,'3  which  turns  its  course  from  Albanian  Scotia,  and  which  Irom  near 
Clanawley  district,  runs  through  the  middle  of  Ireland,  into  the  ocean  ? 
Both  are  placed  by  this  same  author  in  the  Scotia  of  St.  Brigid's  birth.  19 
Dempster  falsely  assigns  to  his  Scotia  these  places,  and  others  mentioned 
by  him,  such  as  Campus  Femhin,  Campus  Cliach,  Arx  Lethglass.  More 
over,  very  few  writers,  at  the  present  day,  even  if  ignorant  regarding  the 
situation  and  obscure  nomenclature  of  the  places  just  mentioned,  will  be 
foolish  enough  to  claim  for  Scotland,  all  the  other  Irish  provinces,  vi/.  : — 
Media,20  Connacia,-'1  Lagenia,2-  Ultonia,2^  Mummonia.-'-*  So  long  as  these 
are  left  us,  we  can  still  lay  claim  to  Hibernia,  Brigid  and  Scotia. 25  Again, 
all  the  circumstances  related,  regarding  her  parentage,16  birth,2?  receiving  the 


15  St.  Cogitosus,  in  the  first  chapter  of  her 
life,  says,  that  St.  Brigid  was  horn  in  Scotia, 
and  descended  from  the  good  and  honour 
able    family   of   L'thech,    her    father    being 
named  Dubtach,  and  her  mother  Brocessa. 
By  the  Scotia  here  mentioned,  it  is  evident, 
Scotia  Major,  or  Ireland,  must  be  intended  ; 
as  well  because  no  author  who  flourished 
before  the  time  of  Cogitosus,  nor  any  writer 
who  lived  400  years  after  him,  understood 
that  any  other  country  save  Ireland  had  re 
ceived  this  name  of  Scotia,  as  also,  because 
Fthech's  family  flourished  in  Hibernia,  and 
not   in   Scotia   Minor  or  Albania.     Again, 
the    same    author    mentions    a    celebrated 
church  of  St.  Brigid   at   Kildare,  which   he 
greatly  extols  in  his  prologue,  and  most  ac 
curately  describes  in  the  351!!  chapter  of  her 
Life.     In  this  church,  he  tells  us,  St.  Brigid 
was  interred.     He  also  names  a  most  exten 
sive    plain    of  Bu.;,    in  the   2yth   chapter. 
Other  bishops  of  Ireland  are  alluded  to  in 
this  same  life,  as  likewise  in  its  prologue, 
when  the  words,  Scotia  and  Ilibernia,  Scoti 
and  Hibernienses  are  used  as  synonymous 
terms. 

16  See  "  Ilistoria  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Sco- 
torum,"  tomus  i.,  lib.  ii.,  pp.  82,  84. 

J?  Attributed  by  Colgan  to  St.  Ultan. 
See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Tertia  Vita  S. 
Brigidre,  cap.  xlvii.,  li.,  hi.,  liv.,  Ixii.,  Ixiv. 
Many  other  references  might  be  made. 

18  Now  the  Shannon. 


">  See  //</(/.,  cap.  Ixii.,  xcvii. 

50  Now  Meath. 

-'  Now  Connaught. 

22  Now  Leinster. 
"  Now  Ulster. 
"4  Now  Minister. 

23  Sec    Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Ouarta  ad  Acta  S.  Urigidaj,  cap. 
iv.,  pp.  614,  615. 

-°  In  his  Life  of  our  saint,  and  in  the  first 
chapter,  when  speaking  of  her  father,  St. 
Ultan  tells  u>,  that  he  was  a  certain  Dubtach, 
go  ten'  J.ii^aiii>i.<is,  \c.  He  states,  that  St. 
Brigid's  mother  had  been  sold  to  a  certain 
Magus  belonging  to  the  family  of  Neill  and 
to  the  territory  of  Meath,  at  a  time  when 
she  bore  our  saint  in  her  womb  (cap.  3). 
Animosus,  or  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's 
Fourth  Life,  informs  us,  that  there  was  a 
glorious  king  in  Ireland  named  Fedhlimid 
Reach'. :nar,  see  lib.  i. ,  cap.  i.,  how  Lochad 
Fionn,  brother  to  this  same  king,  had  mi 
grated  to  Leinster,  and  that  there  Dubtach, 
St.  Brigid's  father,  descended  from  him. 
See  ibid. 

-i  The  author  of  the  Fourth  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  tells  us,  how  a  certain  poet  from  the 
northern  part  of  Ireland  bought  Brosaech 
the  mother  of  St.  Brigid,  during  a  time 
when  she  was  pregnant  (cap.  4)  ;  and  when 
treating  about  the  place  of  our  saint's  birth, 
he  assures  us,  that  it  was  a  town  named 
Fochart  llurthcmne,  of  Conaille  Muirthem- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


veil  personal  connexions,25  the  places  she  visited,2*  the  houses  she  founded, 
and  where  she  died,3°  can  only  have  reference  to  Ireland.  3'  Besides  all  this, 
the  unanimous  opinions  and  traditions  of  the  Irish  and  of  every  other  foreign 
nation  tend  to  establish  most  conclusively,  that  the  illustrious  and  super- 
eminent  vir<nn,3"  called  even  "  the  Mary  of  Ireland,'^  had  been  ever  con 
tinuously  and  specially  regarded  as  a  native  and  great  patron  saint  m  our 
country. 

At  the  present  day,  it  would  prove  quite  superfluous  to  enter  upon  any 
enquiry  as  to  the  country  of  St.  Brigid's  birth  ;  a  weight  of  historical  autho 
rity  and  universal  popular  tradition  fully  vindicating  the  claims  of  Ireland  to 
this  honour.  Yet,  it  appears,  Colgan  thought  it  necessary,  in  his  time,  to 
devote  a  rather  lengthened  dissertation  to  establish  a  position  controverted 
by  certain  writers.:*  In  order  to  expose  Dempster's  misstatements,  and 
those  of  other  Brito-Scottish  writers,  he  addresses  many  arguments,  although 
dubious,  if  it  would  not  seem  diminishing  the  force  of  manifest  truth  by 
proving  a  self-evident  proposition.  In  .the  first  place,  that  she  was  of  Irish 
descent  and  bom  in  Ireland,  had  been  established  by  authorities  numerously 
cited.  Foreign  as  well  as  domestic  writers  bear  abundant  testimony  to  the 
fact  that  St.  Brig-id  was  a  native  of  our  island.  Thus  Raban,3S  Notkaiy6  St. 


hne  district,  in  the  province  of  Ulster  (cap. 
6).  See  Usshcr,  "  De  Primordiis  Ecclesi- 
arum  Britannia,"  cap.  xvi.,  p.  706. 

28  It  can  he  shown,  by  referring  to  their 
descent,  festivals,  places,  and  days  of  vene 
ration,  that  many  saints,  allied  to  St.  Brigid, 
were  Irish. 

29  The  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Third  Life- 
thought  by  Colgan  to  be  St.  Ultan — states, 
that  St.  Brigid  was  born  in  the  country  and 
house  of  a  Magus  (cap.  4)  ;  that  this  identical 
Magus  went  with  the  infant  to  Connaught, 
so  soon  as  she  was  born   (cap.  5)  ;  and,  in 
the  following  chapter,  he  relates,  how  the 
child  had  been  brought  up  in  Connaught, 
until  she  had  become  a  grown  maiden.     He 
tells   us,    how   she    returned    to    Lagenia, 
where  her  father  lived   (cap.  n)  ;  how  she 
was  called  another  Mary,  at  a  certain  synod, 
assembled  in  the  plain  of  the  Liffey,  in  which 
Kildare  is  situated  (cap.  14)  ;  how,  in  com 
pany  with  her  father,  she  left  the  house  of 
this  latter  to  visit  the  King  of  Leinster,  in 
the  Liffey's  great  plain   (cap.  90).     He   re 
lates,  how  she  had  received  the  veil  in  that 
land,  belonging  to  the  Niall  family  (cap.  1 8), 
and  which  is  identical  with  Meath,  as  after 
wards  indicated  (cap.  21).     He  also  records, 
in  the  following  chapters,  what  she  achieved 
in  different  countries  and  provinces  of  Ire 
land,  as  for  instance,  in  Theba  (cap.  29)  ; 
how  she  accompanied   St.    Patrick    to    the 
northern  part  of  Ireland,  called  Ulster,  and 
what  she  did  at  the  Castle  of  Lethglass  and 
in  the  town  of  Macha  (cap.   57,   60,  61)  ; 
how  she  went  with  Bishop  Ere,  of  Munster 
descent,  into  the  southern  province  of  Ire 
land   (cap.  71)  ;  how  returning  to   the   ex 
treme  bounds  of  Leinster,  she  entered  the 
Labrathi  country  (cap.  Si),  and  how  in  fine, 
returning  to  her  father's  house,  she  saved 
him  from  impending  death  (cap.  87).     We 
have  already  seen,  that  in  a  hymn  subjoined 


to  St.  Ultan's  Life  of  our  saint,  she  is  said 
to  have  been  distinguished  in  that  island, 
"  quse  vocatur  Hibernia,"  &c.  If  St.  Brigid 
had  been  born  in  Britain,  is  it  not  strange, 
that  St.  Ultan,  in  no  place,  speaks  of  her 
birth,  education,  religious  profession,  &c., 
as  having  occurred  there,  while  these  inci 
dents,  and  special  localities  already  men 
tioned,  are  referable  alone  to  Ireland  ?  Nor 
does  he  even  indicate,  in  one  single  instance, 
that  she  had  ever  left  our  island. 

3°  In  his  Life  of  our  saint,  when  describing 
the  church  of  Kildare  in  Leinster,  Cogitosus 
tells  us,  that  St.  Brigid  was  buried  in  it 
(cap.  xxxv.).  And,  towards  the  end  of  her 
Acts,  Animosus  says,  that  she  died,  and  was 
buried  in  Ireland  (lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcix.). 
Blessed  Marianus  Scotus,  in  his  Chronicle, 
at  the  year  521,  writes,  "  S.  Brigida  Scota 
Virgo  in  Hibernia  diem  clausit  extremum." 
3'  These  reliable  writers,  St.  Cogitosus, 
St.  Cormac,  archbishop,  Animosus,  Keat 
ing,  and  others,  exhibit  this  fact  sufficiently, 
when  introducing  her  paternal  and  maternal 
genealogies. 

33  St.  ^Engus  calls  her  a  "bright  Virgin 
and  chief  of  holy  Irishwomen,"  in  his  Festi- 
logy,  at  the  1st  of  February.  In  like  manner, 
Marianus  O' Gorman,  at  the  same  date, 
styles  her  "  Chief- Virgin  or  Chief  of  the 
Virgins  of  Ireland." 

33  Among  Irish  authorities  may  be  enu 
merated,   St.   Ibar,  an  Irish  Apostle,  who 
calls  St.  Brigid,  "Mary  of  the  Irish,"  when 
she  came  from  the  house  of  her  father  Dub- 
tach  to  that  synod,  assembled  at  Kildare, 
in  Leinster. 

34  Such  as  Dempster  and  Camerarius. 

35  In  his  Martyrology,  at  the  1st  of  Feb 
ruary,  Raban  says,  "  In  Hibernia  nativitas 
S.  Brigidas. " 

36  In  his  Martyrology,  St.  Notkar  enters 
at  the  same  day:  "In  Hibernia  nativitas 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


37 


Bernard,3?  Florence  of  Worcester,38  John  Capgrave,3?  Francis  Hare,40 
Zacharias  Lippeloo,41  Cornelius  Grassius/2  the  English  Martyrology,4-* 
Baronius,**  Herebert  Ros\veyde,«  Legends  of  the  Brabantine  Saints/6  and 
a  great  number  of  other  highly  respectable  authorities,  may  be  cited. 
Various  Breviaries  and  offices  might  be  added. 4?  Nor  even  do  Scotch 
authors  of  respectability*3  deny  this  origin  for  the  Scotian  virgin,  in  ages  now 
past ;  while  none  of  them  at  present  claim  Scotland  to  have  been  the  country 
of  her  birth,  although  she  is  there  greatly  venerated. 

It  may  easily  be  supposed,  however,  that  John    Majorca  and    Hector 


S.  Brigida;,  Virginis,"  iS:c. 

3?  In  "Vita  S.  Malachia;,"  he  speaks  of 
Fochart,  as  being  the  birth-place  of  St. 
Brigid,  while  alluding  to  St.  Malachy's  acts 
anil  travels  in  Ireland,  cap.  xxiv. 

38  Florence  of  Worcester  records,  "  S.- 
Brigida  Scota  Virgo  in  Hibernia  obiit," 
A.D.  521. 

3yjohn  Capgravc,  in  his  "  Legcnda  Sanc 
torum  Anglin.',"  says,  "  \"ir  quidam  in  Ili- 
bernia  nomine  Dubthacus,  geiierc  Lage- 
niensis,"  cVc. 

4u  "  Vitic  Sanctorum,"  at  the  1st  of  Feb 
ruary. 

41  "Vita:  sivc  Res  Gest;c  Sanctorum,"  at 
the  1st  of  February. 

42  At  the  1st  of  February. 

45  The  English  Martyrology,  at  the  1st  of 
February,  says,  "In  Hibernia  depositio 
S.  Brigida.1,  virginis,  qua;  in  Comitatu  Kill- 
dariensi  in  loco  Fochart  appellato  nata  est." 

1)4  At  this  same  year,  521  Baronius  says, 
"  Hoc  insiiper  anno  S.  Brigida,  Scota  Virgo 
in  Hibernia  diem  clausit  extremum.  Hoc 
in  Chronico  gentilis  ipsius  Marianus  Scotus, 
cui  potius  assentiendum  putamus,  quam,  iis 
qui  ante  bicnnium  defunctam  ponunt." — 
"  Annales  Ecclesiastici,"  tomus  vii. 

45  In  his  "  Chronicle,"  at   the  year  521  : 
"  Eodem  anno  S.  Virgo  Brigida,  ctijus  pn.i> 
clara  vita  hodie  extat,  in  Hibernia  obiit." 

46  In  the  "Lcgenda  Sanctorum  Brabantiu;" 
we    read:    "S.    Brigida   venerabilis   Virgo 
Hibernia  fuit  instar  suaveolentis  rosa;,  quie 
super  spinas  floret." 

47  That  St.  Brigid  was  an  Irishwoman  and 
a  Lagenian,  both  by  birth  and  descent,  will 
be  found  in  her  office  in  the   "  Breviarium 
Gienensum,"  when  we  read  :   "  Natale  Bri 
gida;   Virginis   qua;  a  Christianis  nobilibus- 
que   parentibus   orta,    patre    Dubthaco    et 
matre    Broca,   a  pueritia   bonarum   artium 
studiis   inolevit,    adeo  ut   de  omnibus  pro- 
vinciis  Hibernia;  innumerabiles  populi  con- 
fluentes  ad  ejus  monasterium,"  <kc.  (cap.  2). 
Again,  in  her  office,  printed  at  Paris,  A.  u. 
1620,  Resp.  i,  "Felicem  Hiberniam  beata 
Lageniadeclarat,Brigidajgignansprosapiam, 
de  qua  lastitiatn  sumat  ecclesia  ;"  and  in  the 
hymn,   "  llxc  est  Laurus  Hibernian,  cujus 
viror  non  marcuit,"  &c. 

48  James  Gordon,  himself  a  Scotchman, 
in  his  "  Chronicle,"  at  the  year  521  :   "  S. 
Brigida  Scota  moritur  ia  Hibernia."    John 


Bisciol  in  his  "  F.pitome  Annalium,"  A.D. 
521,  writes,  "  S.  Brigida  Scota  \"irgo  in 
Hibernia  diem  clausit  extremum."  See 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix 
Uuarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigida',  cap.  iv. ,  pp. 
615,  6 1 6. 

4/  It  is  strange  that  Major — otherwise  so 
learned — could  have  fallen  into  so  many 
chronological  and  historic  mistakes,  as, 
when  citing  Mede  for  authority,  he  states, 
that  St.  Columba  came  into  Britain,  while 
Brudeus,  a  powerful  king,  reigned  over  the 
1'icts  ;  that  (laniard,  the  son  of  Dompnach, 
succeeded  to  Brudeus,  and  built  a  collegiate 
church  at  Abernethy.  Afterwards,  it  is 
added,  the  blessed  Patrick  brought  St. 
Brigid  into  that  place  ;  when  (iarnard  pre 
sented  certain  possessions  to  the  holy  Brigid 
and  to  nine  virgins,  who  accompanied  her. 
The.-.e  possessions  the  Propositus  and  canons 
held  in  his  time.  See  "Historia  Majoris 
Britannia;,"  iVc.,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xiv.,  p.  85. 
Bede  testifies,  indeed,  that  St.  Columba 
came  from  Ireland  to  Albania  in  the  year 
565,  while  Brudeus  or  Bridius,  son  of  Meilo- 
chon,  ruled  over  the  Picts.  See  "  Historia 
Fcclesiastica  (ientis  Anglorum,"  lib.  iii., 
cap.  iv.,  p\i.  168,  169.  (iarnard  succeeded 
in  the  government.  Now,  according  to 
Marianus  Scotus  and  Sigebert,  in  their 
Chronicles,  St.  Patrick  died  A.I).  491,  or 
according  to  other  admitted  accounts,  in 
493.  Thus,  he  flourished  many  years  be 
fore  St.  Columba  and  Brudeus  were  born, 
or  before  (iarnard  reigned.  Wherefore,  St. 
Patrick  could  not  have  introduced  St.  Brigid 
into  Abernethy,  during  the  time  when  lived 
any  of  those  already  named.  In  fine,  how 
could  St.  Brigid  be  installed  at  Abernethy, 
about  the  time  of  Garnard,  king  over  the 
Picts,  if  she  died  A.D.  521,  or  according  to 
other  accounts,  in  523  ?  or  how  could  that 
king  offer  possessions  to  her,  and  to  the 
nine  virgins,  accompanying  her?  If  it  be 
objected,  Major  meant  that  King  Garnard, 
bestowed  those  possessions,  not  during  St. 
Brigid's  life-time  but  to  express  his  great 
veneration  for  her,  when  she  had  departed 
from  this  world  ;  why,  it  may  be  asked,  does 
he  observe,  that  the  aforesaid  church  had  been 
built  by  Garnard,  that  St.  Brigid  had  been 
inducted  there,  and  that  certain  endowments 
were  made,  unless  St.  Brigid  and  her  virgins 
were  living  ?  We  may  remark,  there  ib  not 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Boetius,s°  who  advance  these  statements,  did  not  voluntarily  fall  into  error  : 
they  had  even  some  apparent  foundation  whereon  their  opinions  might  have 
been  based.  The  source  of  their  mistake  seems  to  have  arisen  from  the  in 
determinate  name  of  Erigicl.  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  too,_has  strangely  con 
fused  her  period.51  Many  other  holy  women  bear  a  similar  name  and  be 
long  to  our  country,  as  mentioned  in  native  martyrologies.  Nay  more,  in 
Scotland,  the  name  of  Brigid  was  highly  extolled,  and  several  females  were 
named  after  her.  Among  others,  there  was  a  certain  saint  so  called,  who 
had  been  buried  at  Abernethy52  in  Britannic  Scotia.53  Abernethy  as  a  see 
was  at  one  time  superior  to  St.  Andrew's. 54  It  was  even  primatial,ss  but  it 
was  transferred  to  the  latter  place,  in  850.56  That  Brigid,  however,  was  quite 
a  different  person  from  the  Patroness  of  Ireland."  As  this  latter,  had  been 
much  more  celebrated  and  exalted  in  popular  estimation,  she  was  probably 
considered  to  have  been  the  person  alluded  to,  by  those  writers  mentioned  ; 
they  not  having  known  about  any  other  Brigid,  nor  having  weighed  atten 
tively  those  arguments,  which  might  favour  a  contrary  conclusion.53  It  is 


a  shadow  —  much  less  a  probability  —  of 
truth,  in  the  supposition,  that  St.  Brigid,  a 
Scot,  and  by  profession  a  Christian,  left  her 
country  and  Christian  friends,  with  a  band 
of  virgins,  or  betook  herself  to  a  Pagan  and 
hostile  nation,  as  alsobeforeits  kingand  chiefs 
had  been  converted,  establishing  herself 
there  in  a  royal  city,  where  she  dwelt  to  the 
time  of  her  death.  The  Northern  Picts, 
with  their  king,  had  been  pagans,  for  more 
than  forty  years  after  St.  Brigid's  death, 
and  until  St.  Columba  came,  from  Ireland  in 
565,  when  he  afterwards  converted  them  to 
the  faith.  These  facts  are  sufficiently  clear, 
from  the  testimony  of  Venerable  Becle. 
See  "  Ilistoria  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Anglo- 
rum,"  lib.  iii.,  cap.  iv.,  pp.  168,  169,  and 
lib.  v.,  cap.  x.,  pp.  400  to  403. 

5°  See  "  Scotorum  Historic,  aprima  Gcn- 
tis  Origine,"  &c.,  lib.  ix.,  fol.  clxiiii. 

51  Thus  he  states,   that   St.    Patrick,   St. 
Brigid,    and    St.    Columkille   were    cotem- 
poraries.     See   "  Topographia  Hibernica," 
Dist.  iii.,  cap.  xviii.,  in  Giraldi  Cambrensis 
"Opera."     Edited  by  James   F.   Dimock, 
M.A.,  p.  163.     Father  Stephen  White  de 
votes  nearly  a  chapter  to  an  elaborate  refu 
tation  of  this  misstatement,    and   to    other 
errors  in  relation  to  them.     See  "Apologia 
pro   Ilibernia,"  cap.  xii. ,  pp.   123  to    131. 
Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's  edition. 

52  See  an  interesting  account  of  this  place 
in  Fullarton's  "  Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scot 
land,"  vol.  i. ,  pp.  22  to  24. 

53  In  Colgan's  opinion,  the  St.  Brigid,  in 
terred  at  Abernethy,  should  rather  be   con 
sidered  a  holy  virgin,  who  was  a  disciple  of 
St.  Columba,  Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  in  Scot 
land.       She    is    mentioned    in    Capgrave's 
"  Acta    S.    Cuthberti,"    and    in    Ussher's 
"  Primordia   Ecclesiarum    Britannicarum, " 
cap.  xvi.,  p.  705?  where  we  read,  "  S.  Co 
lumba  primus  Episcopus  in  Dunkeld  Cuth- 
bertum     puerum     suscepit  ;     unaque    cum 
puella  quadam.  nomine  Brigida  ex  Ilibernia 


oriunda  retinuit,  ct  aliquamdiu  cducavit." 
It  is  supposed,  if  the  circumstances  of  time 
do  not  warrant  such  an  opinion,  those  of 
place  are  favourable  to  it,  for  this  St.  Brigid 
had  been  educated  in  Britannic  Scotia. 

54  See  Rev.  Mackenzie  E.   C.   Walcott's 
"  Scoti-Monasticon  :  The  Ancient  Church 
of  Scotland,"  p.  2. 

55  Ibid.,  p.  72.     This  work  contains  some 
beautiful  illustrations  of  Scottish  churches. 

&  Ibid,,  p.  84. 

S?  It  is  said,  St.  Cuthbert  flourished  in 
Britain,  about  A.I).  660,  and  at  this  period, 
Garnard  lived  according  to  Buchannan's 
"Rerum  Scoticarum  Historia,"  lib.  v.,  p. 
148.  He  died  A.  I).  640,  the  fifty-third  king 
of  the  Picts.  See  Rev.  Thomas  Innes' 
"Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Scot 
land."  Chronological  Memoirs,  p.  225. 

s8  In  his  time,  John  Major  remarks,  that 
St.  Brigid  was  venerated  at  Abernethy. 
See  "  Historice  Majoris  Britannia,"  lib.  ii., 
cap.  xiv.,  p.  85.  But,  if  this  be  not  the 
identical  Brigid  there  venerated,  she  might 
have  been  a  St.  Brigid,  daughter  to  Neman, 
son  of  Aid,  son  to  Loarn,  son  to  Ere,  son  to 
Eochad,  surnamed  Muinreamhuir,  Prince  of 
Dalaradia.  She  is  thought  to  have  been 
venerated  in  Magoluinge,  on  the  9'h  °f 
March.  It  is  certain,  this  Brigid,  with  her 
three  sisters  Corba,  Lassara,  and  Lemania, 
had  descended  from  the  line  of  Dalriadan 
princes,  who  were  formerly  most  powerful 
chiefs  both  in  Scotia  Major,  or  Ireland,  and 
in  Scotia  Minor,  or  Scotland.  From  this 
line,  the  kings  of  Albanian  Scotia  issued. 
In  the  same  Albanian  Scotia  we  find  a  loca 
lity,  termed  Magluinge.  This  appears,  where 
the  plain  of  Lunge  is  said  to  have  been  "in 
terra  Ethica,"  according  to  Adamnan's 
"Vita  S.  Columbce,"  lib.  ii.,  cap.  15.  The 
country,  called  "terra  Ethica,"  seems  to 
have  derived  its  denomination  from  Ethech 
or  Echodius,  prince  of  Dalaradia,  or  as  he 
is  called  by  the  British  Scots  Ethod. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  39 


not  difficult,  moreover,  to  discover  the  origin  of  that  error,  into  which  Hector 
Boetius,5?  and  other  writers  after  him,  had  been  betrayed,  when  they  state, 
that  St.  Brigid  of  Kildare  was  veiled  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  by  Bishop 
Machille.  In  some  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  we  read,  that  she  had  received  the 
veil  from  a  Bishop  Machille,  or  more  correctly,  from  a  Bishop  Maccalleus.60 
In  certain  Acts  of  the  Irish  Apostle,61  it  is  stated,  that  Maccaldus,  or  more 
properly  Macculleus,  a  disciple  to  our  illustrious  Irish  Apostle,  had  been 
consecrated  a  bishop  and  placed  over  the  Isle  of  Man.62  Hence,  it  had  been 
incorrectly  supposed  St.  Brigid  received  the  veil  in  that  island,  while  it  is 
evident  from  her  Acts  by  Cogitosus,  that  she  had  been  invested  with  it,  not 
in  Mannia,°-5  but  in  Media.'-*  and  that  it  had  been  given  to  her,  not  by 
Macculleus,  Bishop  of  Man,  but  by  another  Maccalleus,  quite  a  different 
person  from  the  first-named  prelate.65 

It  will  surprise  the  curious  investigator  of  our  glorious  saint's  biography, 
to  learn  on  what  grounds  Scoto-British  writers  state  her  birth  to  have  taken 
place  in  Laudonia,  that  she  was  veiled  by  Bishop  Machille  in  Mona  Island,66 
that  she  died  and  was  buried  at  Abernethy/?  in  the  Tiffa  district  of  North 
Britain  ;  especially,  when  we  take  into  account,  that  among  many  writers  of 
St.  Brigid's  Acts,  no  one  of  them  has  even  stated,  she  was  born  out  of  Ireland, 
or  has  mentioned  any  other  place  or  country  in  Britain  having  connection 
with  her  Life  and  labours.  We  can  hardly  take  into  account  Dempster's 
ridiculous  explanation,  that  Laclenia/8  a  province  of  Britain,  should  be  sub 
stituted  for  Lagcnia.  In  previous  passages,  it  will  be  seen,  that  the  most 
authentic  accounts  make  St.  Brigid,  not  only  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  they 
even  assert  she  was  conceived  in  Leinster,  was  born  in  Ulster,  and  had  been 
educated  in  Connaught  ;  they  likewise  state,  that  she  assumed  the  veil  in 
Mcath,  while  her  labours  extended  to  Minister,  as  well  as  to  those  other 
provinces  already  mentioned.  In  fine,  it  is  stated,  she  died  at  Kildare  in 
Lcinster,  and  afterwards  she  was  honourably  interred  at  Down  in  Ulster, 
having  been  deposited  in  the  same  tomb  with  St.  Patrick  and  Columkille. 
Moreover,  her  paternal  and  maternal  genealogy,  derived  through  such  a  long 
line  of  ancestors,  so  many  saints  related  to  her,  so  many  other  holy  Irish 
virgins  bearing  her  name,  and  so  many  journeys  taken  by  her,  through  Irish 


59  See  "  Scotorum  Ilisloria1,"  &c.,  lib.  6s  See  "Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S. 

i.x.,  ful.  clxiiii.  Brigida.1,"  cap.  iv.,  pp.  614  to  617,  ibid. 

'"  Sec  Colon's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  0lJ  A  line  old  Map  of  Mona,  with  Coats  of 

Ilymnus  sou  Trima  Vila  S.  Brigid;c,  sec.  S,  Arms,  coloured,  was  published  in  folio  size 

p.  515.  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidix.',  cap.  iii.,  about  A.D.  1020.  In  1835,  was  issued  at 

p.  519.  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigida.',  cap.  xxix.,  Douglas,  in  8vo  shape,  Arch.  Crcgecn's 

p.  574.  "Dictionary  of  the  Manks  Language,  intcr- 

61  l!y  Jocelyn.  spersed  with  many  Gaelic  Proverbs." 

6-  See  "  Sexta  Vita  S.  Fatr.cii,"  cap.  clii.,  b?  There  is  an  interesting  account  of  Aber- 

p.  98.  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  nethy  (Apurnethige)  in  Rev.  Mackenzie  E. 

63  The  Island  of  Man.     See  "  Chronicon  S.  Walcott's  "  Ancient  Church  of  Scotland," 
Manniiu,  or  a    Chronicle   of   the   Kings   of  pp.  3 '6,  31?- 

Man,"  supposed  to  have  been  written  by  the  68  Colgan  says,  he  could  not  find  any  pro- 
Monks  of  the  Abbey  of  Russin,  for  an  in-  vince,  territory  or  spot,  called  Laudenia  or 
tcresting  account  of  the  civil  and  ccclesias-  Landian.  If  perchance,  Dempster  wished 
tical  history  of  the  island.  This  I2mo  book,  to  understand  Laudonia,  most  certainly  in 
published  in  1784,  contains  the  Norwegian  St.  Brigid's  time,  it  did  not  belong  to  the 
narrative  of  Olave,  the  Black  King  of  Man,  Picts  or  Scots,  but  to  the  more  southern 
with  other  curious  particulars.  Britons.  In  the  century  of  Venerable  Bede, 

64  Or  the  territory  of  Meath.    See  Colgan's  it  appertained  to  the   Northumbrians  and 
"Trias  Thaumaturga."     Secunda  Vita  S.  English.     This  is  proved  by  Ussher,  in  his 
Brigida},  cap.  iii.,  p.  519,  and  n.  II,  p.  525,  "  1'rimordia   Ecclesiarum    Britannicarum," 
ibid.  pp.  663,  667. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


towns,  plains  and  territories,  from  her  birth  to  the  time  of  her  death,  prove 
conclusively,  that  St.  Bngid  should  be  specially  classed  among  our  national 
saints.  It  is  not  a  little  surprising— to  say  the  least  of  it— to  find  Dempster6? 
has  not  only  infelicitously,  but  even  incautiously,  jumbled  irrelevant  circum 
stances,  with  his  assertions.  7°  It  is  incredible  to  suppose,  that  so  many  reliable 
authors,  as  those  already  cited,  could  egregiously  and  perseveringly  have 
corrupted  the  names  of  Lagenia  and  Laudenia,  in  the  manner  it  has  pleased 
Dempster  alone  to  imagine,  and  that  without  any  grounds.?1  To  assume 
that  he  meant  Laudonia,?2  if  we  allow,  that  before  Bede's  time,  it  belonged 
to  Albania,  it  certainly  was  never  under  the  Scottish  dominion,  but  solely 
under  that  of  the  Picts,  from  whom  Pictland  is  called.  If  therefore,  St. 
Brigid  had  been  born  in  Laudonia,"  it  must  be  conceded,  she  was  not  a 
Scot,  but  a  Briton,  or  at  least  a  Pict,  by  family  and  birth. 

To  resume  what  we  consider  the  more  legendary  accounts  of  our  saint's 
early  infancy,  it  is  said,  that  the  Magus,  the  mother  of  St.  Brigid,  her  nurse 
and  others,  who  were  sitting  in  a  certain  place  without  the  house,  saw  a  cloth 
take  fire  suddenly^  and  it"  touched  the  head  of  this  holy  child,  who  was 
beside  them.  But,  when  their  hands  were  immediately  stretched  forth  to  ex 
tinguish  the  flame,  it  disappeared  at  once,  and  the  cloth  was  even  found  to 
have  escaped  the  ravages  of  this  fire.  Such  a  portent  was  supposed  to  have 
been  an  indication,  that  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit  inflamed  God's  servant^ 
On  another  occasion,  while  this  same  Magus  was  sleeping,  he  had  a  vision 
of  two  angels,?6  clothed  in  white,  pouring  oil  on  the  girl's  head,  and  seeming 
to  perform  a  baptismal  rite  in  the  usual  manner. "  From  such  account, 
some  persons  have  inferred  our  saint  had  been  baptized  by  an  angel.  How 
ever,  this  should  be  a  false  conjecture,  as  the  Magus  is  merely  said  to  have 
seen  this  apparition  during  his  sleep,  and  it  only  indicated  the  future  per 
formance  of  the  rite,  as  also  the  name  Brigid  was  destined  to  bear.?8 

One  of  those  angels  said  to  the  Magus  :  "  Call  this  virgin  Brigid,  for 


6'  This  writer  remarks,  St.  Brigid  has  been 
called  a  Lagenian,  whereas,  she  ought  to  be 
considered  a  Ladenian  ;  her  father,  it  is  pre 
tended,  having  been  from  Ladenia,  deno 
minated  Landian,  in  Dempster's  time.  "  Ex 
Ladenia  mine  Landian,"  &c.  See  "  Ilis- 
toria  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Scotorum,"  lib. 
ii.,  num.  144. 

7°  These  manifestly  false  statements  ob 
viously  destroy  all  faith  in  accounts,  the  in 
accuracy  of  which  could  not  otherwise  be  so 
easily  detected  by  a  cursory  reader  of  his 
works.  Wilful  negligence  and  perversion  of 
facts  are  very  clearly  attributable  to  this  self- 
constituted  historian. 

71  Yet,  after  all,  if  we  should  institute  a 
careful   examination  of  the   entire  map   of 
British  Scotland,  we   shall  not  be  able   to 
discover  the  Ladenia  or  Landian,  imagined 
by  Dempster,  no  more  than  we  could  expect 
to  find  Lagenia  there.     Having  attentively 
read  over  all  the  names  of  Albanian  Scotia's 
provinces,   territories   and  other   particular 
localities,  and  their  very  accurate  descrip 
tions,  as  given  by  Hector  Boetius  and  George 
Buchannan,  Colgan  could  find  no  such  de 
nomination. 

72  A  very  interesting  account  of  this  pro 
vince,  Loudian,  or  Lothian,  will  be  found  in 


Chalmers'  "  Caledonia,"  vol.  i.,  book  iii., 
chap,  vi.,  pp.  367  to  373. 

73  As  Dempster  states. 

74  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
the  Saint,  this  cloth  is  called  the  covering 
or  cap,  which  was  on  the  infant's  head,  pp. 
7,  8. 

75  See    Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.   Brigidre,  cap.  vi.,  pp.  527, 
528.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,  lib.  i.,cap. 
x.,  p.  547,  ibid. 

76  The  Irish  Life  has  three  angels,  clothed 
in  white  garments,  like  clerics.     Professor 
O'Looney's  copy,  pp.  7,  8. 

77  Colgan  remarks,   that  the  ministry  of 
angels  is  often  read,    as  having  been  em 
ployed  in  the  administration  of  the  sacra 
ments  to  men.     The  Fifth  Life  expressly 
says;   "aqua  perfundentes  totum  ordinem 
baptismatis  sicut  Catholica  consuevit  eccle- 
sia,  super  earn  peregerunt."     Colgan  adds 
that  a  succeeding  prophecy  seems  to  have 
its  truth  confirmed  from  experience.     See 
"Trias    Thaumaturga."      Quarta   Vita    S. 
Brigidae,  n.   16,   p.   564.     Quinta   Vita   S. 
Brigidae,  cap.  viii.,  p.  569,  and  nn.   9,   II, 
p.  640. 

78  See  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidoe,  n.  7,  p. 
543.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  n.  15,  p.  564- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  41 


she  shall  be  full  of  grace  before  God  and  man,  and  her  name  shall  be 
celebrated  throughout  the  entire  world.'"'  Pronouncing  such  words,  those 
angels  disappeared.  On  a  certain  occasion,  being  awake,  and  studying  the 
course  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  according  to  a  usual  custom7*  during  the 
whole  night,  that  same  Magus  saw  a  column  of  fire  ascending  from  the 
house,  in  which  Brigid  and  her  mother  slept.  He  called  another  man  to 
witness  such  phenomenon.  In  the  morning,  an  account  of  this  prodigy  was 
given  to  many  other  persons.80  We  are  told,  that  the  child's  stomach 
rejected  the  food  of  the  Magus,  and  on  endeavouring  to  discover  a  cause  for 
such  nausea,  the  magician  was  urged  to  cry  out :  "  I  am  unclean,  but  this 
girl  is  filled  with  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  is  the  reason  why  she 
will  not  retain  any  sustenance  which  I  supply  to  her."  Whereupon,  lie 
procured  a  white  cow,8'  which  was  intended  to  give  milk,  while  a  certain 
religious  and  Christian  woman  was  provided  to  take  charge  of  the  infant. 
That  woman  milked  the  cow,  and  the  milk,  afterwards  given  to  the  child, 
was  found  to  agree  with  her.  Yet,  while  the  infant  suffered  from  weakness, 
her  personal  beauty  even  improved.32  As  the  maid  grew  up,  she  served  in 
menial  offices  about  the  house.8-5  Whatever  she  touched  or  saw,  in  the 
shape  of  food,  seemed  to  increase  in  a  miraculous  manner.  It  is  remarked, 
that  the  Magus  and  his  family  were  Pagans  at  the  time  of  these  occurrences. 
Afterwards,  however,  he  became  a  Christian.  A  little  before  this  latter 
event,  the  faith  of  Christ  is  said  to  have  come  into  Ireland.84  On  a  certain 
day,  the  infant's  voice  was  heard  praying  to  God,  while  extending  her  little 
hands  towards  heaven.  A  certain  man  saluted  her,  and  to  him  she  replied, 
"This  will  be  mine;  this  will  be  mine."  Hearing  such  words,  he  said  ; 
"  This  is  truly  a  prophecy,  for  the  infant  says  this  place  shall  belong  to  her 
forever."  And  her  prediction  was 'exactly  fulfilled.85  In  course  of  time,  a 


75  The  Fourth  Life  has  it,   "  suoquc  more  nion,   being  obliged  to  take  a  little  water 

astra    c<eli    considerans,"    &c.      It    may   be  immediately  afterwards,  in  order  to  facilitate 

asked,    if  this  passage  throws  any  light  on  such   an  effort.      On   each   Thursday,    also, 

the  supposed  astronomical    pursuit    of  the  she  rather  tasted  than   drank  a  little  water. 

Uruids  ?  And  during  such  a  long  lapse  of  time,   she 

80  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  neither  eat  or  drank  anything,  besides  what 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  vii.,  viiu,  p.  has  been  already  mentioned.  Nor  had  she 
528.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  even  an  appetite  for  eating  or  drinking, 
xi.,  p.  547,  ibid.  As  usual,  the  foregoing  Although  she  was  reduced  to  a  great  degree 
circumstances  are  greatly  amplified  in  the  of  bodily  prostration,  and  could  not  walk  : 
Fifth  Life  of  our  Saint,  where  it  is  added,  yet,  her  mental  powers  were  unimpaired, 
that  the  Magus  and  his  wife  took  care  to  she  had  the  faculty  of  speech,  and  retained 
provide  a  nurse  for  the  infant.  This  nurse  a  great  appearance  of  personal  comeliness, 
assisted  the  mother  in  attending  to  its  wants.  This  wonderful  example  of  abstinence,  it  is 
It  is  also  said,  the  heads  of  the  family  were  said,  could  be  vouched  for,  by  more  wit- 
very  indulgent  to  the  mother,  even  although  nesses  than  even  the  inhabitants  of  that 
they  held  her  as  a  slave.  Quinta  Vita  S.  village,  in  which  the  maiden  lived.  Hence, 
Brigidie,  cap.  viii.,  p.  569,  ibid.  a  less  remarkable  instance,  in  St.  Brigid's 

Bl  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  ha*  a  cr.se,  cannot  be  reasonably  doubted.     The 

"white  red-eared  cow,"  pp.  9,  10.  writer  then  adds,  that  what  the  Almighty 

82  The  writer  of  St.    Brigid's  Fifth  Life  had  effected  for  the  virgin  then  living  was 

remarks,  that  this  account  should  not  excite  only  known  to  the  great  Author  and  for  an 

the  incredulity — even  if  it  might  the  admi-  undefinable  reason.    See  Vita  Quinta  S.  Bri- 

ration — of  his  readers  ;  for,  in  his  own  day,  gidic,  cap.  x.,  xi.,  pp.  569,  570,  ibid. 

it  was  possible  to  see  a  certain  virgin,  that  *3  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  states, 

dwelt  in  the  south  of  England,  and  that  she  that  she  used  to  train  the  sheep,  supply  the 

lived  for  twenty  years  in  her  father's  house,  birds,  and  feed  the  poor,  pp.  9,  10. 

without  taking  any  kind  of  food,  except  the  8-»  See   Colgan's    "  Trias   Thaumaturga," 

Body  of  our  Lord,  which  she  received  on  Vita  Tertia  S.    Brigidoe,    cap.  x.,  p.    528. 

all  Sundays  of  the  year.     And  as  the  passage  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  i.,  cap.  vii.,  p. 

through  the  throat  was  of  narrow  compass,  547,  ibid. 

she  could  scarcely  swallow  Holy  Commu-  8s  In  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  'the  Mary 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


hr-e  parish  was  formed  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  it  was  dedicated  to 
St  &Brimd  S6  Learning  those  foregoing  words,  some  local  inhabitants  went 
to' the  Magus  and  said  to  him  :  "  Do  you  remain  with  us,  but  let  the  girl, 
who  has  prophesied  that  our  lands  will  belong  to  her,  retire."  The  Magus 
replied  :  "  I  shall  not  leave  my  female  slave  and  her  daughter,  but  I  will 
rather  quit  your  country."  Then  the  Magus,  with  his  family,  is  said  to  have 
directed  his  course  towards  Munster,  his  native  province.8?  There,  also,  he 
inherited  a  paternal  estate.88 

In  St  Braid's  Third  Life,  we  afterwards  read  of  a  desire  entering  the 
daughter's  mind  to  return— in  all  probability— to  her  father's  home.  On 
learning  this  wish,  the  Magus  sent  messengers  to  Dubtach,  who  was  informed, 
that  his  daughter  could  be  received  free.  The  father  of  our  Saint  was  greatly 
rejoiced.  On  the  reception  of  this  message,  he  went  to  the  magician's 
house  whence  he  returned,89  accompanied  by  his  daughter.  The  Christian 
nurse  also  followed  her  youthful  charged  This  attendant  was  seized  with 
some  complaint.  Our  Saint,  accompanied  by  another  girl,  was  sent  to  the 
house  of  a  certain  man,?1  that  they  might  procure  a  draught  of  beer  for  the 
patient.  In  this  expectation,  it  appears,  the  messengers  were  disappointed  ; 
but  on  their  return  homewards,  St.  Brigid  turned  out  of  her  course  towards 
a  particular  well.?2  Here  she  filled  the  vessel  borne  with  water,  and  instantly 


uf  Erin,'  and  the  special  Patroness  of  the 
Dioceses  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  O'Donnell  of 
Maynooth  College,  the  expressions  of  the 
holy  infant  are  referred,  not  to  an  earthly, 
but  to  a  heavenly,  inheritance.  See  chap. 
i.,  p.  9.  Dublin,  1859,  iSmo. 

80  Colgan  maintains,  that  from  the  manner 
in  which  this  account  is  conveyed  in  her 
Third  Life,  by  the  word  "parrochia,"  the 
author  means  a  district  of  ecclesiastical  land, 
dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  according  to  an  old 
custom.  In  Colgan's  time,  there  was  a  parish 
church  consecrated  to  St.  Brigid,  in  the 
diocese  of  Elphin,  within  the  district  of 
Soil-mured-haigh,  and  in  the  province  of 
Connaught.  Formerly  a  monastery  was 
there  endowed  with  ample  possessions. 
The  author,  in  Colgan's  opinion,  must  have 
flourished  at  a  distant  date  ;  for,  he  says, 
that  district  was  large,  that  a  considerable 
tract  of  land  was '  attached,  and  that  it 
was  St.  Brigid's  patrimony.  For  many 
ages  before  Colgan's  time,  the  tract  there 
was  of  no  large  extent,  nor  did  it  belong  to 
St.  Brigid's  order.  See  "Trias  Thauma- 
turga,"  Vila  Tertia  S.  Brigida.',  n.  8,  p. 
543,  ibid.  However,  it  may  still  be  ques 
tioned,  if  Colgan  rightly  indentified  the 
locality,  to  which  allusion  has  been  made . 

87  These   circumstances   are    also   briefly 
related  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life, 
PP.  7,  8. 

88  These  circumstances  are  related  in  the 
Third  and  Fourth  Lives  of  our  Saint.     See 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  Tertia 
S.  Brigidse,   cap.  ix.,  p.  528.     Vita  Quarta 
S.  Brigidai,  cap.  xii.,  p.  579.     In  the  latter 
record,  we  find  these  following  additional 
particulars  related:    "Cum  jam  crevisset 
quidem  corpore,  sed  plus  fide  spe  et  charitate, 


sancta  puclla  fideliter  ministrabat."  Then 
twenty-one  or  twenty-two  chapters  of  the 
latter  life  are  said  to  be  missing.  In  a  note 
we  find  remarked,  that  these  seem  to  have 
been  omitted,  owing  to  the  fault  of  a  scribe. 
But  their  tenor  may  be  gleaned  from  the 
ninth  to  the  thirty-second  chapter  of  the 
preceding  life.  See  ibid,  n.  17,  p.  5^4- 

8?  It  is  stated  to  be  in  Ui  Failge,  or  Offaly, 
in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  9,  IO. 

9°  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xi.,  p.  528.  In  the 
Fifth  Life  of  our  Saint,  the  same  circum 
stances  apparently  are  somewhat  differently 
related.  After  describing  the  virtues,  which 
characterized  the  holy  maiden,  when  absent 
from  her  paternal  roof,  the  writer  then  pro 
ceeds  to  relate  how  her  father  impulsively 
thanked  God  for  having  sent  him  such  a 
daughter.  While  leaving  her  mother  still  a 
captive,  Brigid  and  her  nurse  were  brought 
to  his  house.  There  his  daughter  was  re 
ceived  with  the  most  affectionate  care.  See 
Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  570, 
ibid.  See  also  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid," 
by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  14,  15. 

91  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  he 
is  named  Baethchu,  pp.  9,  10. 

92  The  account  runs,  that  she  was  enabled 
to  express  these  words,  as  versified  in  the 
Sixth  Life  : 

' '  Quferite  cervisiam  :    mihi  medo  magna 
voluptas." 

Then  follow  these  lines  : 

"  Brigida  (tune  fuerat  juvenis  et  pulchra 

puella) 

Mittitur  ad  vicos  quoorendo  quippe  liquo» 
rem. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  43 


it  became  changed  into  an  excellent  description  of  beer.^3  When  the  nurse 
tasted  it,  she  recovered  from  her  infirmity.?*  This  miracle  is  also  alluded  to 
in  one  of  St.  Brigid's  offices. 

Most  of  those  foregoing  accounts  are  altogether  omitted,  from  narratives 
which  are  considered  to  have  been  the  earliest  and  most  authentic  biogra 
phies  of  our  Saint ;  and  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  them  altogether 
legendary,  and  undeserving  attention.  Nor  can  we  find  any  valid  reason  to 
question  a  supposition  already  adduced,'53  that  our  Saint's  parents,  besides 
being  of  noble  family,  were  also  Christians,  and  that  St.  Brigid  herself  was 
born  in  lawful  wedlock.  All  her  biographers  seem  agreed,  however,  that 
from  her  earliest  youth,  this  illustrious  maiden  was  remarkable  for  every 
noble  and  virtuous  characteristic,  foreshadowing  the  future  Saint.  To  her 
Christian  nurse  is  attributed  much  of  that  holy  training,  which  during  child 
hood  made  her  a  devout  client  of  Jesus  and  Mary.96  When  this  holy  virgin 
grew  to  the  years  of  discretion,  and  even  from  her  most  tender  youth,  she 
was  distinguished  for  her  extraordinary  virtues  ;'-'?  especially,  for  that  grave 
decorum  and  modesty,  which  bestowed  dignity  and  propriety  on  her  every 
word  and  action.  Kach  day  she  acquired  some  new  virtue,  or  increased  in 
spiritual  progress.  She  was  early  grounded  in  doctrines  of  the  Christian's 
Faith ;  and  she  must  have  received,  also,  some  secular  education,  corre 
sponding  with  the  rank  of  her  parents.  From  earliest  years  she  was  distin 
guished  for  instances  of  extraordinary  charity,  especially  towards  the  poor. 
An  anecdote  of  her  childhood  is  related.'-'3  The  youthful  virgin  was  bounti 
ful  and  hospitable  to  such  a  degree,  that  she  frequently  distributed  to  the 
poor  and  to  strangers  large  quantities  of  milk  and  butter,  which  her  mother 
had  committed  to  her  charge.  In  consequence  of  this  generous  propensity, 
she  found  on  a  certain  occasion,  that  her  store  was  completely  exhausted. 
Being  accustomed  each  day  to  superintend  the  labours  of  her  maids  and  of 
her  daughter,  in  various  departments  ot"  their  industry,  our  Saint's  mother 
was  about  to  make  her  usual  inquiries,  when  fearing  reproof  for  the  improvi- 


Virgo     Dei     properans     una     comitantc  account,  and  all  that  follows  in  this  biogra- 

sororc.  1'hy,  so  ^ar  as  lne  35tn  chapter,  are  wanting 

Quiclam  cervisiam,  quamvi.s  velabat,  ha-  in  the  Fourth  Life.     See  ibid,  n.  8,  p.  543- 

bebat  :  The  circumstances  of  this  miracle  are  related, 

Virginibus  sacris  stultus  donate  ncgabat."  with  certain  modifications,  in  the  Fifth  and 

Sixth    Lives.     In   the   former,    it   is    said, 

Further  on  this  line  occurs  :  during   her   infirmity,    the    nurse    suffered 

greatly    from    thirst,    and    that    St.    Brigid 

"  Qui  latices  gelidos  Lyci  convertit  in  un-  signed  the  water  drawn  from  the  well,  with 

das  :"  a  sign  of  the  cross,  while  those,  who  were 

present  and  witnessed  the  miraculous  effect 

to  which  Colgan  appends  this  note,  that  in  the  produced,  admired  and  extolled  our  Saint's 

MS.  for  lyei,  or  more  correctly,  /nr/,  was  to  faith   and  miraculous  powers.      It    is   here 

be  found  c<cli<r.       But    because  the  author  said,  likewise,    that  two  girls  accompanied 

seems  to  allude  to  the  change  by  Christ  of  the  Saint,  when   she  proceeded  on  her  er- 

water  into  wine  at   Cana  in   Galilee,    ly<-i  rand.      In  the  Sixth  Life,   it  is  stated,   that 

appears  to  be  the  correct  reading.  See ''Trias  the   nurse  had  been  seized  with  a  burning 

Thaumaturga,"    Vita   Quinta   S.    Brigid.T,  fever,  so  that  she  could  scarcely  articulate 

cap.  xvi.,   p.  571  ;  and   Sexta  Vita  S.  P>ri-  owing  to  thirst. 

L,ida3,  sec.  iii.,  p.  583,  and  n.  8,  p.  598,  ibid.  95  Especially  by  Dr.  Lanigan. 

w  The  kind  of  beer  alluded  to  was  mead,  9&  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

as  expressed  in  the  metrical  life.     It  appears  Irish  Priest,  chap,  i.,  pp.  10  to  13. 

to  have  been  a  favourite  drink  among  the  97  See  the  various  published  Offices  and 

ancient  Irish  ;  and,  most  likely,  it  was  little  accounts  of  our  Saint,  by  different  writers. 

• — if  at  all — impregnated  with  intoxicating  98  By  Cogitosus.     In  Professor  O'Looney's 

properties.  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  this  account  is  am- 

94  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  plified,  and  St.  Brigid's  prayer  is  rendered 

Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xii.,  p.  528.      Such  into  three  Irish  stanzas,  pp.  II  to  14. 


44 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


dence  admitted  into  household  concerns,  Brigid  betook  herself  to  prayer. 
The  Almighty  graciously  heard  her  petitions,  and  miraculously  increased  the 
exhausted  store  of  butter. 99  When  this  remarkable  circumstance  became 
known  to  the  handmaids,  these  admired  the  girl's  wonderful  trust  in  Divine 
Providence,  and  then  gave  praise  to  God,  who  rewarded  her  Faith,  Hope 
and  Charity,  by  the  performance  of  this  miracle  in  her  behalf.100 

At  another  time,  it  is  related,  while  engaged  in  providing  food  for  some 
noble  guests,101  she  was  so  much  moved  with  the  whining  and  eager  gestures 
of  a  dog,  that  she  gave  him  a  great  portion  of  the  bacon  she  had  been  cook 
ing,  and,  afterwards,  she  found  more  than  a  sufficiency  remaining,  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  strangers.102  These  anecdotes  serve  to  impress  us  most 
agreeably,  with  the  natural  kindliness  and  generosity  of  her  youthful 
disposition. 

It  appears  quite  probable,  that  in  her  youth,  the  pious  maiden  must  have 
been  known,  to  the  great  Irish  Apostle  Patrick.  For,  it  is  related,  in  the 
Tripartite  Life  of  this  latter  Saint,  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  preaching 


99  This  account  is  also  given  in  various 
Offices  and  other  narratives,  regarding  our 
Saint.      See    likewise    "The   Life   of    St. 
Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp. 
17,  1 8. 

100  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidos,  cap.  ii.,  p.  5!9- 
Capgrave  relates  this  miracle,  as  occurring 
at   the   house   of    the   Magus.     "  Legenda 
Sanctorum   Anglite,    Scotia;  et  HiberniDe," 
Vita  S.  Brigidce,  sec.  2.     In  the  Third  Life 
of  St.  Brigid,   the  account  given  regarding 
this    miracle    is    substantially    as    follows. 
After  stating  some  circumstances,  that  took 
place  after  our  Saint  had  been  sent  back  to 
her  father,  we  are  told,  that  she  again  re 
turned  to  visit  her  mother,   who  remained 
with  her  master,  the  Magus  ;  although  she 
lived  in  a  separate  house,  from  that  in  which 
he  dwelt.     The    Saint's   mother    had    the 
charge  of  twelve  cows  ;  the  butter  produced 
from   which,    she   was   obliged   to   collect. 
But,  when  St.  Brigid  arrived  on  this  visit  to 
her  mother,  the  virgin  was  accustomed  to 
distribute  butter  each  day  to  the  poor  and 
to  the  guests  ;  in  doing  which,    she  divided 
it  into  twelve  parts,  in  honour  of  the  twelve 
Apostles.     She  made  one  portion   greater 
than  the  remaining  parts,  in  honour  of  our 
Saviour,  while  remarking,  she  saw  the  per 
son  of  Christ  in  that  of  every  guest.     One 
day,  the  Magus  and  his  wife  brought  a  large 
measure  to  her,  that  it  might  be  filled  with 
butter.     On  seeing  this   vessel,    the   ready 
flush  of  her  cheeks  betrayed  a  certain  dis 
turbance  of  her  mind  ;  for  she  had  only  the 
butter  of  one  day  and  a  half  day  then  col 
lected.     Visitors  having  entered  the  house, 
the  virgin  joyously  began  to  exercise  claims 
of  hospitality  towards  them,  and  to  prepare 
for  their  refection.      She  then  retired  to  a 
private  part  of  this  house,  where  she  poured 
forth  her  prayers  to  God.     Afterwards,   she 
produced  the  small  quantity  of  butter  then 
in  her  possession.      But,   the  wife  of  the 


Magus,  on  seeing  it,  contemptuously  taunted 
her  on  its  smallness.  The  Saint  replied, 
however,  that  there  should  be  sufficient  to 
fill  a  large  vessel.  Through  the  interposi 
tion  of  Divine  Providence,  her  prediction 
was  fulfilled.  When  the  Magus  witnessed 
this  miracle,  he  told  St.  Brigid,  that  the 
vessel  thus  miraculously  filled  should  belong 
to  her,  and  likewise  those  twelve  cows  given 
in  charge  to  her  mother.  Still  the  Saint 
declined  receiving  such  gifts,  asking  instead 
of  them  her  mother's  freedom.  The  Magus 
then  said  ;  "  Lo,  I  offer  you  your  mother's 
liberty,  as  well  as  the  gifts  of  this  butter 
and  those  cows."  We  are  told,  that  the 
Magus  then  believed  and  was  baptized,  and 
that  St.  Brigid,  bestowing  her  gifts  on  the 
poor,  returned  with  her  mother  towards  her 
father's  home.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau 
maturga,"  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidze,  cap.  xv., 
p.  528.  Similar  circumstances,  for  the  most 
part,  are  mentioned  in  the  Fifth  Life  of  our 
Saint,  with  the  usual  amplifications.  It  is 
there  reported,  likewise,  that  she  paid  a 
visit  to  her  mother,  already  alluded  to,  in 
company  with  her  nurse  and  a  brother. 
See  "  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidce,"  cap.  xviii., 
xix.,  xx.,  xxi.,  pp.  571,  572,  ibid. 

101  These  circumstances  are  alluded  to  in 
the  First,   Second  and  Third  Lives  of  the 
saint.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita    Prima    S.    Brigidaj,    sec.    14,   p.    516. 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  iv.,  p.  519. 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida:,    cap.  xiii.,  p.  528. 
In  the  Fifth  Life  nearly  the  same  account  is 
given,  with  the  addition  of  some  immaterial 
particulars.     See  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidte, 
cap.  xvii.,  p.  571,  ibid.     All  accounts  agree, 
that  these  occurrences   took   place   at   her 
father's  house. 

102  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,   it  is  said  the  guests,  who  wit 
nessed  this  miracle,  would  not  eat  the  food 
thus  increased,  but  it  was  distributed  to  the 
poor  and  destitute,  pp.  9  to  12. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  45 


to  a  vast  multitude  of  persons,  Bridget  formed  one  of  the  number.  Then  she 
is  said  to  have  been  illustrious  for  her  gifts  of  prophecy  and  miracles.  The 
place,  where  St.  Patrick  is  said  to  have  preached  on  this  occasion,  we  find 
called,  the  territory  of  Lemania.  It  was  a  rural  district  of  Tyrone,  in  the 
diocese  of  Clogher,  and  commonly  called  Magh-lemna,  otherwise  Clossach. 
It  is  said,  that  St.  Patrick  stood  on  a  hill,  called  Finn-abhuir.  We  are  told, 
likewise,  that  the  Irish  Apostle  preached  here  with  great  fervour  for  a  dura 
tion  of  three  days  and  three  nights,  while  the  people  were  so  enraptured 
with  his  discourse,  they  did  not  think  a  single  day  had  elapsed,  pending  this 
long  interval. 10^  While  listening  to  him,  she  was  transported  into  such  an 
ecstacy,  that  the  people  thought  she  had  fallen  asleep.  During  this  time, 
Engid  had  a  vision,  regarding  that  present,  and  a  future  state  of  the  Irish 
Church.  Then  on  awaking,  St.  Patrick  desired  her  to  relate  what  she  had 
seen.  She  told  him,  at  first,  that  she  had  seen  a  herd  of  white  oxen  amid 
white  crops  ;  then,  she  beheld  spotted  animals  of  different  colours  ;  and 
after  these  appeared  black  and  darkly-coloured  cattle.  Afterwards  sheep 
and  swine  were  seen ;  lastly  dogs  and  wolves  worrying  each  other. I0*  Yet 
while  Brigid  seemed  to  sleep,  St.  Patrick  would  not  allow  the  congregation 
to  awaken  her,  until  she  came  to  a  state  of  consciousness  of  her  own  accord. 
The  Irish  Apostle  afterwards  told  the  people,  that  her  vision  referred  to  that 
present  and  to  a  future  state  of  the  Church  in  Ireland.10^ 

In  his  Fourth106  and  Sixth10?  Lives,  it  is  related,  that  St.  Brigid  wove  a 
shroud  to  cover  the  remains  of  St.  Patrick,  after  his  death.  Dr.  Lanigan 
calculates,  that  the  Irish  Apostle  did  not  live  nearly  so  late  as  A.D.  493, Io3 
when  St.  Brigid's  reputation  was  spread  far  and  wide.10'  At  the  time  of  his 
decease,  the  holy  virgin  is  thought  to  have  been  a  mere  child.  Besides  the 
earlier  writers  of  St.  Patrick's  Acts  have  no  mention  of  St.  Brigid  having 
woven  the  shroud.  With  special  minuteness,  Fiach's  hymn,  the  Scholiast, 
Probus,  the  Tripartite,  and  the  third  Life  give  an  account  of  the  last  days  of 
St.  Patrick,  his  death  and  obsequies.  They  specify  the  name  of  that  bishop 
who  attended  him,  although  otherwise  he  was  scarcely  known.  Strange, 
indeed,  would  be  their  omitting  to  mention  so  celebrated  a  saint  as  Brigid 
had  she  attended  with  the  shroud  at  his  exit.  If  those  circumstances, 
reported  by  later  writers  concerning  her  transactions  with  St.  Patrick,  had 
really  occurred,  it  is  impossible  they  could  have  been  overlooked  by  those 
authors,  who  lived  nearer  to  their  occurrence.  Perhaps  Brigid  wove  a  pall  or 
some  sepulchral  ornament  to  be  spread  over  his  grave,  and  hence  might  have 
arisen  the  idea,  that  she  had  done  so  during  his  lifetime.110  Such  a  circum 
stance  might  easily  give  origin  to  the  rumour  of  her  having  assisted  at  St. 
Patrick's  obsequies.  People  about  Dundalk,  however,  have  a  tradition,  that 


103  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  chap,  iii.,  p.  31. 

Jocelyn's   or   Sexta   Vita    S.   1'atricii,    cap.  "^  In  her  exertions  for  forming  congrega- 

xciv.,  xcv.^pp.  86,  87.  tions  of  holy  virgins  and  establishments  for 

I0<  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  them— which   coincided   so   well   with   the 

Septima  Vita  S.  Patricii,  lib.  iii.,  cap.  iv.,  views  of  our  Apostle— she  would  and  should 

pp.^149,  150,  and  n.  u,  p.  184.  have   acted   under   his   guidance,    were   he 

T  "tv*  "TheLife  of  St.  frigid,"  by  an  alive.     Accordingly  there  must  have  been 

io6criest>  °hap,'  iii->  ?p"  3I  to  33>  frequent    communications    between    them, 

3  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  concerning  which  the  ancient  writers  could 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  xciii.,  p.  47.  not  have  been  totally  silent.      See   "  Eccle- 

ID7  See  Ibid.     Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap.  siastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap, 

clxxxvm.,  clxxxix.,  p.  107.  viii.,  sec.  ii.,  n.  29,  pp.  384,  385. 

10   In   "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  "°  See     Dr.    Lanigan's     "Ecclesiastical 

Irish  Priest,   the  author  seems  inclined  to  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  cap   viii.    sec 

adopt  this  date  for  St.  Patrick's  death.    See  ii.,  n.  29,  p.  384. 


46  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 

St.  Brigid  lived  in  the  year  432,  when  St.  Patrick  first  preached  in  Ireland, 
and  that  she  survived  him  thirty  years.111  As  St.  Brigid  approached  the 
years  of  puberty,  her  parents  thought  of  procuring  her  a  partner  for  life;  and 
they  wished  to  espouse  her  to  a  husband  of  their  own  selection.  But,  this 
holy  virgin  had  long  before  resolved,  on  consecrating  herself  to  the  service 
of  God,  to  whom  she  had  already  devoted  herself,  by  those  chaste  disposi 
tions  of  soul,  and  by  those  ardent  inspirations  of  piety,  which  so  much 
distinguished  her  childhood.  To  her  declarations  thus  made,  it  would  appear, 
that  her  parents  interposed  no  serious  objections.  She  was  in  the  bloom  of 
maidenhood,  when  she  resolved  on  entering  the  religious  state.  An  opinion 
has  been  advanced,  that  she  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  at  the  time  of 
making  her  vows  ;112  but  one  better  weighed  may  be  more  deserving  our 
regard,  that  she  was  not  a  consecrated  virgin,  during  the  life-time  of  St. 
Patrick,  and  that  she  must  at  least  have  attained  the  sixteenth  year  of  her 
age,  to  have  been  canonically  eligible  for  this  state.1^ 

Before  we  arrive  at  this  event  in  her  life,  there  are  other  circumstances 
mentioned,  regarding  the  holy  virgin,  in  what  are  considered  to  be  among 
the  most  questionable  of  her  recorded  acts.  It  may  not  be  irrelevant,  how 
ever,  to  introduce  them.  While  at  her  father's  house,  and  before  she  returned 
to  see  her  captive  mother,  it  is  related,  that  a  certain  religious  widow/^who 
lived  in  an  adjoining  village,  asked  our  Saint's  father  to  allow  her  Brigid's 
companionship  to  a  Synod,115  then  held  in  the  plain  of  the  Liny.116  To  this 
request  her  father  assented ;  and  while  both  proceeded  on  their  way,  a  cer 
tain  holy  man,11?  who  was  present  at  the  Synod,118  slept.  He  had  a  vision, 
at  the  same  time.  On  awaking  from  sleep,  he  said ;  "  I  have  beheld  Mary, 
and  a  certain  man  standing  with  her,  who  said  to  me,  '  This  is  holy  Mary, 
who  dwells  amongst  you.'  ""9  When  the  venerable  man  had  mentioned  this  in 
the  Synod,  St.  Brigid  and  her  companion  arrived.  Then  the  same  holy  man 
cried  out ;  "  This  is  the  Mary,  whom  I  have  seen,  for  I  know  with  certainty 
her  appearance."  All,  who  were  present,  rendered  their  acknowledgment 
to  St.  Brigid,120  beholding  in  her  a  type  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.121 


111  See  "  Louth  Letters  containing  Infor-  II8  In  an  Irish  Life,  it  is  called  a  Synod 
mation  relative  to   the  Antiquities   of  the  of  the  Leinster  Seniors. 

County,  collected  during  the  Progress  of  the  "9  See   "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

Ordnance  Survey  in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i.,  p.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  p.  16. 

287.     Letter  of  Messrs.  P.  O'Keefe  and  T.  I2°  This  is  somewhat  differently  related  in 

O'Conor,   dated  Dundalk,    February    1 5th,  an   Irish   Life   of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  xii.,   as 

1836.  quoted  by  Colgan.     See   "Trias  Thauma- 

112  Such  is  Ussher's  statement,  founded  on  turga."     Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Bri- 
the  questionable  authority  of  Hector  Boece.  gidce,  cap.  xii.,  p.  622. 

113  This    is     Dr.     Lanigan's     conclusion.  I=I  See  Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
"The   Life   of    St.    Brigid,"   by   an   Irish  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,   cap.  xiv.,  p.  528. 
Priest,   states,    that  about  her  sixteenth  or  In  n.  9,  p.  543,  ibid,    with  the  usual  typo- 
seventeenth  year  was  that  of  her  profession,  graphical  errors  of  his  works,  we  are  referred 
the  date  being  drciter  469.     See  chap,  iii.,  by  Colgan  to  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  St. 
p.  28.  Brigid's    Irish    Life,   where   the   holy   man 

114  In  an  Irish  Life  of  St.   Brigid,   this  alluded  to  is  St.  Iber,  bishop  ;  and  for  the 
woman  is  called  a  Virgin.      In   Professor  eulogy  pronounced  on  her,  whereby  she  re- 
O'Looney's  Irish  Life  she  is  simply  desig-  ceives  as  a  title   "the  other  Mary  of  the 
nated  "  a  religious  woman,"  pp.  n,  12.  Irish,"  we  are  to  examine,  not  the  Third, 

"5  An   Irish   Life,     quoted    by    Colgan,  but   the    Twelfth    chapter,     in   his    Fourth 

states,  at  cap.  xii.,  that  this  Synod  was  held  Appendix  to  our  Saint's  Acts.     There  we 

at  the  spot,  afterwards  known  as  Kildare.  have  a  different  version  of  the  story,  related 

116  Called     Magh     Liphe     in     Professor  in  the  text,  and  regarding  the  consideration 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  n,  12.  in  which  our  Saint  had  been  held  by  the 

"7  The  Irish  Life  calls  him  Ilibar  or  Ibar.  ancient   Irish.     These   called  her    another 

In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  his  name  Mother  of  God,  or  another  Mary. 
is  written  lb<M^\,  pp.  II,  12. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  47 


Thenceforth,  this  holy  virgin  was  called  '•'  the  Mary  of  the  Gaedhels."122  The 
learned  Dr.  Todd  observes,  commenting  on  this  title  :  Here  when  it  is  said 
that  Brigid  was  "  in  the  type  of  Mary,"  the  meaning,  perhaps,  may  be,  that 
she  resembled  in  form  and  figure  the  person  of  the  Blessed  Virgin ;  not  that 
she  was  actually  the  Blessed  Virgin,  reappearing  upon  earth,  but  that,  from 
the  close  resemblance  of  her  features  to  those  of  Mary,  and  from  her  having 
been  seen  in  the  vision  as  Mary,  and  called  by  the  Angel  as  "  Holy  Mary, 
that  dwells  amongst  you/'  she  was  saluted  by  the  assembled  Synod  as  Mary, 
and  was  thenceforth  regarded  as  "  the  Mary  of  the  Irish. "I23  Other  pane 
gyrists  call  St.  Brigid,  the  '•  Mother  of  Christ/'  "The  Mother  of  my  Lord,"  &c., 
thus  bestowing  upon  her  attributes,  belonging  especially  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary.12*  St.  Columkille,  it  is  stated,  composed  a  certain  Hymn  in  praise 
of  St.  Brigid.125  This  was  a  short  metrical  Irish  composition,  which  has 
been  rendered  in  a  Latin  version  by  Colgan,126  and  there  St.  Brigid  is  called 
"The  Mother  of  Christ."12?  In  the  panegyrical  poem  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen,128 
which  Colgan  has  printed,  the  same  exalted  praise  is  bestowed  upon  St. 
Brigid.  Dr.  Todd  takes  quotations  from  the  original  Irish,  as  Colgan's 
printed  text  is  full  of  typographical  errors.  Omitting  the  Irish  extracts, 
these  following  passages  are  submitted  :'-9 

"  Brigit,  mother  of  my  Lord, 
Of  heaven,  a  sovereign  the  best  born." 

On  these  passages,  the  learned  commentator  remarks,  that  Brigid  is  strangely 
spoken  of,  not  as  resembling  the  Virgin  Mary  in  feature,  or  even  in  purity 
and  sanctity,  but  as  partaking  with  her,  in  some  mystical  sense,  of  the  prero 
gative  of  being  Mother  of  Jesus,  "  Mother  of  my  Lord  of  heaven.''  Never 
theless,  it  is  certain,  that  the  idea  of  a  reappearance  of  Mary,  in  the  person 
of  St.  Brigid,  which  should  make  them  one  and  the  same  person,  was  not  in 
the  minds  of  those  writers,  notwithstanding  the  extravagance  of  their  lan 
guage.130  Yet,  it  is  clear,  that  Mary  and  Brigid  are  spoken  of  as  two  distinct 


123 


According    to    Professor    O'Looney's  have  been  the  author.     The  Scholiast  also 

Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  n,  12.  adds,  "  or  it  was  Ultan  of  Ardbreecan  who 

133  See  the  "Liber  Hymnorum,"  Fasciculus  made  this  Hymn." 

I.     Edited  with  notes,  by  Dr.  James  Hen-  I26  In   one   of  these  lines,   St.    Brigid    is 

thorn  Todd.     Note  15,  pp.  65,  66,  and  nn.  alluded  to  thus — 

(f.g.)   ibid.    There  we  find  a   like  account,  "  Hxc  Christi  mater." 

under  the  heading,    "  St.  Brigid,  the  Marv  "7  There  is  still  some  undefined  belief — 

of  the  Irish."  notwithstanding    the    chronological    discre- 

134  In   the    Third    Life    the   language  is  :  pancy — among  the   Irish  people,    that    St. 
"  Hcec   est   Maria   (\vithouttheexplanatory  Brigid  was  a  sister  of  our  Blessed  Lady.     A 
altera)  qua;  habitat   inter  vos  ;"    and  these  legend   prevails,    that   St.   Brigid   advanced 
are  there  given,  as  the  words,  not  of  the  before  the  Mother  of  our  Lord  to  the  tern- 
saint  who  saw  the  vision,   but  of  the  Angel  pie,   and  by  an   ostentatious   exhibition,    or 
seen  in  the  vision,  who  stood  with  the  Yir-  "praisga,"  of  herself,  carrying  lighted  can- 
gin  Mary,  and  said,  not  of  St.  Brigi-'.  Lai  dies  on  her  head,  she  wished  to  divert  at- 
of  the  B.  V.  Mary  herself,  "  Ilaec  e.v..  Maria  tention    from    the   modest    Mother-Virgin, 
qure  habitat  inter  vos,"  thus  strangely  con-  Although  the  day  was  stormy,   none  of  the 
founding  the  person  of  Mary  and  Brigid.  candles    were    extinguished.       Hence,  our 
It  will  be  observed,  however,  that  this  ex-  Blessed  Lady  enjoined  St.  Brigid's  feast  to 
travagance  is  avoided  in  the  Office  printed  be  celebrated  before  that  of  the  Purification, 
in  1622.     See   "  Liber  Hymnorum,"  Note  This  account  was  furnished  to  the  writer  by 
B,  n.  (n.),  pp.  68,  69.  Rev.  David  B.  Mulcahy,  C.C.,  Loughguile, 

1=5  A  portion  of  the  original  Irish  of  this  Co.  Antrim,  in  a  letter,  dated  April  26th, 

Hymn,  with  an  English  translation,  is  given  1875. 

by  Dr.  Todd,  in  the  work  already  quoted  :  "8  His  composition  is  also  found  in  the 

and   it  is    taken    from    the    MS.     "Liber  "Liber  Hymnorum,"  p.  33. 

Hymnorum,"  p.  32.     In  the  preface,   it  is  I2'  As  translated  by  Dr.  Todd. 

said,   that   St.  Columkille  is  supposed  to  13°  St.  Brogan  Cloen  afterwards  says  — 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


beings,  and  the  notion  of  reappearance  of  the  former  in  the  person  of  the 
latter  is  excluded.^1  Our  Lord  has  said,  that  whosoever  shall  do  the  will 
of  God,  the  same  is  his  brother,  and  sister  and  mother^  and  this  perhaps 
may  be  all  that  is  meant  by  St.  Brigid's  pledging  herself  to  be  the  Mother  of 
Christ,  and  making  herself  so  by  words  and  deeds.  According  to  another 
explanation,  she  who  by  continual  elevation  of  mind,  and  fixed  intention, 
keeps  her  thoughts  ever  upon  Christ,  may  be  said  to  travail  with  Christ,  and 
figuratively  to  be  the  mother  of  Christ,  and  so  to  be,  as  it  _  were,  another 
Mary.'33  Colgan  has  interpreted  this  prerogative  of  St.  Brigid  to  be  "the 
Mary  of  the  Irish,"  because  of  the  honour  and  veneration  our  people  enter 
tained  for  her  over  every  other  Saint— the  Blessed  Virgin  only  excepted— 
and  because  of  her  having  had  some  similar  kind  of  religious  deference  in 
comparison  with  the  Holy  Mother  of  God. '34 

The  account  of  that  supposed  Synod,  at  Kildare— but  m  a  somewhat 
modified  form— is  retained  in  an  Office  of  St.  Brigid,  which  has_been  printed 
in  Paris.I35  This  Office,  containing  some  minor  variations,  is_  also  to  be 
found  with  full  musical  notation,  in  the  Antiphonary  of  Clondalkin,  a  MS.  of 
the  fourteenth  century.^6  It  has  also  been  reprinted  by  Colgan,  and  has 


"  The  veiled  Virgin  who  drives  over  the 

Currech 

Is  a  shield  against  sharp  weapons  ; 
None  was  found  her  equal,  except  Mary, 
Let  us  put  our  trust  in  my  strength." 

In  the  last  line  there  is  a  play  upon  the 
name  of  St.  Brigid,  and  the  Irish  word 
Biigi,  "strength."  And  again: — 

"  Every  one  that  hears  ;  every  one  that  re 
peats  [this  poem], 
The  blessing  of  Brigid  be  on  him  ; 
The  blessing  of  Brigid  and  of  God 
Be  upon  them  that  recite  it  together. 

' '  There  are  two  Virgins  in  heaven, 

Who  will  not  give  me  a  forgetful  protec 
tion, 

Mary  and  St.  Brigid, 
Under  the  protection  of  them  both  may 
we  remain." 

'3'  To  passages  taken  from  this  Irish 
Hymn  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen,  Dr.  Todd  ap 
pends  the  following  notes.  The  Currech — 
i.e.,  the  Curragh  of  Kildare.  The  Scholiast 
in  a  gloss  on  this  word  says,  "  curv[\ecli  a 
cursu  equorum  dictus  est ;"  a  curious  proof 
of  the  antiquity  of  its  use  as  a  race-course  : 
to  which,  perhaps,  some  allusion  may  be 
intended  in  the  description  of  St.  Brigid,  as 
"the  Nun  (or  veiled  Virgin)  who  drives 
over  the  Currech."  And  again  :  Two  Vir 
gins. — The  word  CAillecri,  here  used,  sig 
nifies  a  veiled  or  consecrated  virgin,  a  nun, 
derived  probably  from  the  Latin  cucullus." 
The  learned  editor  of  the  "Liber  Hymno- 
rum "  thus  continues  his  remarks:  "The 
words  of  the  supposed  stanza  of  the  Hymn 
in  the  text  (taking  the  corrected  reading  of 
automata  for  ant  amata)  are  also  remark 
able  :  Christi  matron  se  spopondit ;  '  She 


promised  or  pledged  herself  to  be  Christ's 
mother,'  and  made  herself  so  by  words  or 
deeds,  Brigid,  who  is  esteemed  the  Queen 
of  the  true  God."  The  Hymn  itself,  how 
ever  (v.  8),  is  content  with  the  statement 
that  she  was  a  virgin  like  to  Holy  Mary, 
"  Maria;  Sanctos  similem." 

132  St.  Matt.  xii.  50. 

J33  This  seems  to  be  the  idea,  presented 
to  the  mind  of  the  author,  supposed  to  have 
been  St.  Ultan  :  "Christi  matrem  se  spo 
pondit,  dictis  atque  factis  fecit." 

J34  Dr.  Todd  here  remarks:  "This  is 
certainly  softening  the  matter  as  much  as 
possible,  seeing  that  the  ancient  authorities 
place  her  on  an  equality  with  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  giving  to  her  also  the  seemingly  in 
communicable  title  of  Dei  Genetrix,  and  the 
still  more  unusual  one  of  '  Queen  of  the  true 
God.'  And,  moreover,  they  state  expressly 
that  she  was  called  the  Mary  of  the  Irish, 
and  was  recognised  as  such  by  an  assembled 
Synod,  in  consequence  of  her  personal 
resemblance  to  the  B.  Virgin  Mary,  whilst 
still  a  child,  and  therefore  before  she  was 
known  to  the  Irish  people,  or  could  have 
received  any  honour  or  veneration  from 
them."  We  are  then  referred  by  Dr.  Todd 
to  some  learned  and  curious  remarks  on  this 
subject  in  Mr.  Herbert's  Cyclops  Christianus, 
p.  113,  seq.,  p.  137,  p.  141-2.  See  the 
"  Liber  Hymnorum,"  Note  B,  pp.  65  to  68, 
and  nn.  (f,g,h,i,j,k,l,)  ibid.  Also  Colgan's 
"Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Appendix  Secunda 
ad  Acta  S.  Brigidas,  sec.  xxiii.,  p.  606,  and 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
xii.,  p.  622,  ibid. 

133  A.D.  1622.  Noct.  ii.,  Lect.  v.,  Colgan's 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  p.  600. 

136  This  latter  is  preserved  in  the  Library 
of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  It  is  classed  in 
a  Catalogue  of  MSS.  there  preserved,  B, 
1.3. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


49 


been  republished  by  him,  in  common  with  various  lessons  and  prayers, 
relating  to  our  Saint,  as  found  in  other  Breviaries.1^  In  the  same  Office, 
there  is  a  Hymn  at  Lauds,  the  two  first  stanzas  of  which  evidently  paraphrase 
the  verses  commencing  with  "  Christus  in  nostra  insula."^3  The  Irish  Life 
of  Brigid1^  relates,  that  after  returning  from  the  Synod,  she  went  to  visit  her 
mother  who  was  in  bondage. 

Some  great  characteristics  of  our  holy  virgin  are  thus  alluded  to  in  an 
ancient  biography.  "It  was  her  anxious  care  to  comfort  the  poor,  to  banish 
all  distress,  to  relieve  all  wretchedness  :  there  was  no  one  more  modest,  more 
righteous,  more  humble,  or  more  chaste ;  she  never  looked  in  the  face  of 
man  ;  she  was  abstinent,  she  was  spotless,  she  was  prayerful,  she  was  patient, 
she  was  joyful  in  the  commandments  of  God.  She  was  a  consecrated  shrine 
to  receive  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ :  she  was  the  temple  of  God  :  her 
heart  and  her  mind  were  an  abiding  throne  for  the  Holy  Ghost.  She  was 
bright  in  miracles  ;  her  type  among  creatures  is  the  dove  among  birds,  the 
vine  among  trees,  the  sun  amidst  the  stars.  It  is  she  that  relieves  all  who 
are  in  distress  and  danger ;  it  is  she  that  subdues  disease.  It  is  she  that 
restrains  the  angry  fury  of  the  sea.  She  is  the  Mary  of  Ireland."1*0  This  is 
not  the  sole  highly-coloured  panegyric  found  in  our  ancient  literature.  A 
very  old  book  of  vellum,  in  which  is  found  the  Martyrology  of  Maelruain  of 
Tallagh,  and  also  the  saints  bearing  the  same  name,1*1  with  the  names  of 
many  mothers  of  the  saints,  states,  that  Brighit  was  following  the  manners 
and  the  life,  which  the  holy  Mary,  Mother  of  Jesus,  had  practised.1*2  Such 
was  her  aptitude  for  devotional  feeling,  that  she  possessed  every  virtue  which 
could  adorn  a  child  of  Mary,  or  which  could  endear  her  to  those  who  were 
around  her.^3 


CHAPTER     III. 

STATEMENT  REGARDING  ST.  IIRIGID'.S  PARENTS— HER  PERSONAL  AND  MENTAL  ATTRAC 
TIONS  DURING  HER  EAREY  YOUTH — AELEGF.l)  TREATMENT  BY  HER  PARENTS — HER 
GREAT  CHARITY  TOWARDS  THE  PuuR — BROUGHT  BEFORE  DUNLAING,  KING  OK 
LEINSTER — HIS  ADMIRATION  OF  HER  VIRTUES  — HER  RESOLUTION  TO  EMBRACE  A 

RELIGIOUS    LIFE  — A    SUITOR    PROPOSES    MARRIAGE    WITH    ASSENT    OF  HER  FAMILY 

SHE  REJECTS  THIS    OFFER — HER    RELIGIOUS    PROFESSION,   AND  OPINIONS    ADVANCED 

RELATIVE    TO     IT — PROliAHLK    TIME    AND    PLACE ESTABLISHMENT    OF    ST.    BRIGID's 

FIRST  RELIGIOUS  HOUSE— SHE  SELECTS  THE  BEATITUDE  OF  MERCY  FOR  HER  SPECIAL 
PRACTICE— HER  MIRACLES. 

A  SINGULAR  statement  has  been  made,1  that  the  parents  of  Brigid  ruled  over 

'"'  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Appendix  Qui  per  beatam  iirigidam 

Prima  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidaj,    pp.  599  to  602.  Decoravit  Hiberniam, 

In  this  Office,  the  following  is  a  portion  of  Yitam  dans  ejus  lucidam. 
the  Fifth  Lesson  :   "  Religiosa  qmedam  {&- 

mina  postulavit  a  patre  suo,  ut  S.  Brigidx:  "  Hn?c  speculum  munditiffi, 

secum  exiret  ad  synodum  quaj  collecta  erat  U_ua3  mundo  late  clamit, 

m    Campo    Liffaei,  et   a   pater    permittitur.  Hoec  rosa  temperantiae 

Tune  vir  quidem  sanctus  in  synodo  dormiens  Cujus  virtus  non  languit." 

idit  visionem  et  surgens  ait.     llxc  altera  13' Professor  O'Looney's  Copy,  pp.  11,12. 

Maria,    qute   habitat    inter   nos.       Xespom.  '^  From    "Life    of   St.    Brigid,"    in  the 

Virgo  deportatur,  honor  ei  amplius  cumula-  "Leabhar  Breac,"  and  "  Book  of  Lismore." 

tur  :  Synodus  instabat,   nova   Brigida  Stella  '-*1  By  some  called  Homonymi. 

micabat.     Sacra cohors plaudit,  quia  signum  ^2  See  "The  Martyrology  of  Donegal," 

cselitus  audit.      Vers.   Presbyter  hanc  aliam  edited    by   Rev.    Dr.    Todd   and    Rev.   Dr. 

denunciat     esse     Mariam.       Sacra    cohors  Reeves,  pp.  34,  35 

d^;"— Jbid>  P-  6o°-  I43  See    "  The   Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

These  stanzas  are  as  follows  :—  Irish  Priest,  chap,  i.,  p.  13. 

"  Christo  canamus  gloriam,  CHAPTER  in.—1  By  Camerarius. 

E 


5o  LIFE   OF  ST.  URIC  ID. 


the  Orkney  islands,2  and  had  their  residence  in  the  province  Cathensias  in 
Scotia.     Under  King  Congall,-*  they  helped  to  prevent   Hengist_  and   the 
Saxons*  taking  possession  of  those  islands,  according  to  the  same  ill-instructed 
ecclesiastical  historian.6      Several  particulars,    regarding   our   Saint's _  early 
youth,  are  supplied  by  Laurence  of  Durham,   but,   these  are  wanting  in  her 
other  Acts.     It  is  not  easy  to  pronounce,  whether  some  of  those  accounts 
are  furnished  by  his   own   fertile  imagination,   or  from   authors,  who  wrote 
before  his   time.     In   various   instances,   however,   they  present  a  pleasing 
picture   of  virtues,   that   early  adorned   our  Saint.     We  are  told,  as  Brigid 
grew  in  age,   she  increased  also  in  grace.     Her  natural  endowments  were 
likewise  remarkable.     She  received  an  excellent  education.     To  her,  the 
Almighty  granted  personal  gifts,  which  to  others   are  often  the  occasion  of 
danger,  in  a  spiritual  sense.     Whilst  a  mere  child,  her  countenance  was 
radiant  with  smiles,  but  her  looks  were  truly  angelic.     These  even  betokened 
her  future  exalted  sanctity.     Her  figure  was  moulded  with  a  peculiar  grace 
fulness,  while  her  natural  intelligence  caused  the  pagan  master  of  her  mother 
— for  we  are  still  left  in  the  mirage  of  legend — to  furnish  his  bond-woman's 
daughter  opportunities  for  acquiring  some  special  culture.     Each  day  added 
effulgence  of  beauty  to  Brigid's  mental  faculties,  and  to  her  natural  bodily 
endowments ;  while,  owing  to  her  individual  merits,  a  blessing  seemed  to  fall 
on  the  Magus  himself,  who  began  to  grow  rich  in  possession  of  this  world's 
goods.     From  the  very  period  of  our  Saint's  infancy,  it  was  surprising  to  find, 
that  she  exhibited  little  youthful  levity.     Her  thoughts  and  actions  were 
characterized  by  sound  discretion,   and  while  her  lovely  features  beamed 
with  a  matronly  reserve,  she  abhorred  the  follies  of  old  dotards,  as  much  as 
she  did  the  amusements  of  young  persons.     All  admired  her  justly-regulated 
mind,  her  propriety  of  speech,  her  dislike  of  merely  terrestrial  and  transitory 
things,    and   her   perseverance   in   holy   practices.      Worldly-minded   men 
wondered,  that  she  avoided  all  companionship  with  them,  and  women  of  light 
character  could  not  but  feel  mortified,  when  the  holy  virgin  regarded  them 
with  horror ;  while  those  pious  females,  who  devoted  themselves  sincerely  to 
God's  service,  felt  rejoiced,  when  our  Saint  sought  their  company  and  con- 


-  These  are  twenty-eight  in  number,  raid  Dr.  J.  F.  S.  Gordon,  we  find  no  such  name, 
they  lie  directly  north  from  Caithness.  See  "  Scotichronicon,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  5,  6. 
They  are  partly  in  the  Northern  and  partly  5  Hengist  invaded  Britain  in  449.  See 
in  the  German  Ocean.  In  the  old  1'ictish  Dr.  Lingard's  "  History  of  England,"  vol. 
language,  they  are  said  to  have  been  i.,  chap,  ii.,  p.  63.  This  happened,  while 
called  Ar  Cath,  or  the  Tail  of  Caithness.  Eugene  or  Evan,  the  forty-first  Scottish 
Hence,  classic  writers  have  their  denomina-  king,  was  on  the  throne.  He  died  A.D.  452. 
tion,  Orcades.  These  are  divided  into  the  See  Buchannan's  "  Rerum  Scoticarum  His- 
North  and  South  groups  of  Islands.  Some  toria,"  lib.  v.,  pp.  125  to  131.  The  Picts 
of  these  are  called  Skirrachs — corresponding  and  Scots  had  made  so  many  inroads  on  the 
with  the  Irish  word  Skerries — which  are  more  southern  Britons,  after  the  Romans 
chiefly  barren  rocks,  often  covered  by  the  abandoned  Britain,  that  King  Vortigern  in- 
salt-water.  Others,  which  abound  in  pas-  vited  the  Saxons,  under  Hengist  and  Horsa, 
turage,  are  designated  Holms.  to  make  head  against  their  enemies.  This 

3  Now  Caithness,  a  district  in  the  extreme  success,  however,  resulted  in  the  final  sub- 
north-east  of  the  mainland  of  Scolland.    See  jugation  of  the  ancient  Britons  to  the  Saxon 
an  interesting  account   of  it  in  l-'ullarton's  power,    yet  not  without  a    prolonged    and 
"Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scotland,"  vol.  i.,  vigorous  resistance.      In  some  parts  of  Wales 
pp.  218  to  222.  and  Scotland,  notwithstanding,  the  Britons 

4  King    Congall  I.,   who  was    the   forty-  seem  to  have  held  not  inconsiderable  terri- 
fourth  monarch  of   Scotland,   according  to  tories.     See    Rev.    Thomas    limes'    "Civil 
Buchanan,  succeeded  Constantine  I.      After  and    Ecclesiastical    History   of    Scotland." 
a  reign  of  twenty-two  years,  King  Congall  I.  Book  i.,  sees.  XUX.  to  LIU.,  pp.  88  to  95. 
died  A.n.   501.      See   "Rerum   Scoticarum  6  See   "  De  Statu   Hominis  veteris  simul 
Historia,"  lib.  v.,  pp.  133  to  135.     In  the  ac  novae  Ecclesise,  et  Sanctis  Regni  Scotise," 
list  of  1'ictish  Kings,  as  furnished  by  Rev,  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  ii.,  p.  141. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  51 

versation.  This  most  amiable  child,  from  her  earliest  years,  began  to 
understand,  that  modesty  should  be  the  companion  and  guardian  of  all  her 
other  virtues ;  while,  her  most  earnest  desires  were  directed  to  cultivate  this 
hly  of  female  perfection.  In  her  angelic  countenance,  in  her  words  and  her 
motions,  in  her  gait,  gestures,  dress  and  actions,  she  exhibited  that  greatest 
adornment  of  her  sex ;  but,  those  exterior  appearances  were  supplied  from 
the  deep  springs  of  her  stainless  soul,  which  would  not  admit  there  a  single 
trace  of  impurity  to  leave  any  impress.  She  conceived  herself,  as  bound  to 
remove  from  the  gaze  of  men,  whatever  might  be  calculated  to  afford  them 
occasion  for  sin ;  and  she  knew,  that  the  Almighty  diligently  searches  the 
secrets  of  hearts,  to  judge  how  far  the  roots  of  evil  passion  make  progress. 
A  virgin,  not  alone  in  name,  but  in  truth,  frigid  left  nothing  undone  to 
increase  her  merits  in  God's  sight,  while  she  desired  nothing,  which  a  true 
Christian  should  avoid  procuring. 

All  these  virtues,  however,  did  not  screen  our  Saint  from  the  envy  and 
persecution  of  her  father's  wife— thus  runs  the  table— when,  with  her  nurse, 
she  had  been  sent  to  her  first  home  by  the  Magus.  It  usually  happens, 
either  through  himself  or  through  his  instruments,  the  Devil  pursues  with 
malignity  those  most  loved  by  Clod,  and  principally,  with  a  view  to  pervert 
their  understanding.  Hence,  our  Saint's  step-mother  was  accustomed  to 
rind  fault  with  everything  said  or  done  by  this  unoffending  child.  Often 
were  injurious  words  and  even  cruel  stripes  inllicted  on  the  innocent  creature. 
Jsot  content  with  such  a  tyrannical  course  of  conduct,  by  her  incessant  and 
secret  denunciation,  that  wicked  woman  excited  the  Saint's  father  to  adopt  a 
like  treatment  towards  a  daughter  he  had  heretofore  so  much  loved.  Thus, 
instead  of  finding  a  natural  protector  in  the  person  of  her  parent,  Urigid 
found  a  tyrant :  ironi  being  much  attached  to  his  daughter,  her  father  became 
a  persecutor;  his  love  was  (hanged  to  dislike,  and  his  kindness  into  the 
it  injustice.  However,  his  wile  could  not  urge  him  to  sell  his  daugh- 
:er,  as  a  slave;  yet,  she  endeavoured  to  render  the  girl's  position  almost  as 
intolerable,  by  directing  her  to  engage  in  most  servile  and  laborious  offices. 
It  is  said,  that  moved  by  his  wife's  persuasions,  her  father  imposed  an  obli- 
n  of  tending  swine  upon  his  young  daughter.?  Without  a  murmur,  she 
accepted  such  a  humiliating  employment,  to"  become  reconciled  under  those 
injuries  inflicted  by  her  father,  and  partially  to  escape  from  the  malevolent 
ittempts  of  her  step-mother.  The  young  maid  frequently  meditated  on 
s  passion,  and  thence  derived  most  salutary  thoughts.  She  consi- 
:red,  that  the  sufferings  of  this  life  are  not  worthy  of  being  compared  to  the 
glories  of  that  kingdom,  which  Christ  shall  reveal  to  His  perfect  ones.  So, 

pending  much  tune  out-of-doors,  while  engaged  at  an  humble  employment, 
did  not  neglect  her  duties  to  Cod.  When  at  home,  she  was  either 
occupied  in  prayer,  or  in  relieving  the  wants  of  the  poor.8  During  a  time 
thus  spent,  it  chanced  that  her  herd  of  swine  dispersed  while  grazing,  so  that 
some  escaped  the  supervision  of  their  young  guardian.  At  this  moment,  two 
tnieves  who  were  passing  observed  the  opportunity  afforded  them  to  make  a 
seizure.  Accordingly,  these  men  drove  away  two  of  the  swine  as  a  prey. 

ut,  it  so  happened,   that  Dubthach  was   distantly  seen  by  the  robbers  ap- 
iching  them ;  whereupon,  fearing  merited  punishment,  they  betook  them 
selves  to  flight.     On  coming  to  that  spot,  where  his  swine  had  been  aban- 
ed,  the  master  soon  discovered,  that  these  were  a  portion  of  his  herd. 

'  See   "Life  of  St.  Urigid,"  by  an  Irish       the    Saints,"   vol.  ii.,    February  i,    p.   16. 
r,  est   chap,  n     p.  15.  Likewise,  Mrs.  Anastasia  O'Byrnc's  "  Saints 

kev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of      uf  Ireland,"  part  ii.,  p.  14. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


Hax  me  concealed  them  for  a  moment,  he  proceeded  to  the  place  where  his 
daughter  was.  Meantime,  at  first  concealing  his  anger,  under  an  affected 
hilarity  and  in  words  calmly  expressed,  soon  he  changed  this  assumed  coun 
tenance  and  tone,  by  asking  his  daughter,  if  she  could  account  for  the  entire 
number  of  swine  entrusted  to  her  care,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  animal. 
The  holy  maiden,  having  full  faith  in  Almighty  power,  entreated  her  father 
to  examine  and  see  if  he  had  the  full  number.  Carefully  counting  the  herd 
Dubtach  found  included  those  swine  lie  had  concealed.  Astonished  at  such 
a  result,  the  chieftain  then  returned  to  his  home.9 

Our  pious  maid  bore  her  trials  with  patience  and  constancy;    while 
humility  induced  her  on  all  occasions  to  refer  her  meritorious  actions  entirely 
to  God  as  she  knew  that  all  human  virtues  have  their  origin  in  the  bestowal 
of  Divine  Grace.     And,  as  she  had  not  received  these  heavenly  gifts  in  vain, 
Bri-id  zealously  co-operated  with  them.     She  advanced  each  day  towards 
the  highest  de-Tee  of  perfection.     The  more  humility  endeared  her  to  the 
Almighty,  the 'more  was  His  glory  manifested  through  her,  m  the  miracles 
which  were  wrought.     Brigid's   virtues  are  greatly  extolled   by  her   pane 
gyrists.10     All  these  good  dispositions,  however,  were  not  a  sufficient  protec 
tion  from  her  step-mother's  enmity.     This  woman  even  took  occasion  to  find 
fault  with  the  girl's  excellent   qualities,  for  she   envied  that  good  repute, 
which  was  justly  due  to  our  Saint's  merits.11     Such  malignity  seemed  to  in 
crease  each  day,  and  reproaches  were  redoubled,  when  it  had  been  reported 
miracles  were  wrought,  on  occasion  of  that  theft  which  had  been  committed, 
and  at  the  time  of  her  nurse's  infirmity.     Thenceforward,  envy  began  to 
assume  the  characteristics  of  a  fixed  hatred.     All  the  efforts  of  a  wicked 
woman's  malice  were  directed  towards  the  further  persecution  of  an  innocent 
child,  on  whom  a  variety  of  laborious  occupations  were  imposed.     Not  only 
was  the  virgin  employed  as  swine-herd,  but  she  was  obliged  to  bake,  to  cook, 
to  weave,  to  tend  sheep  and  to  engage  in  harvest  labours.       Still   more 
humiliating  and  onerous  offices  were  exacted  from  her.     These  must  have 
been  sufficient  to  break  the  spirit  and  constitution  of  any  child,   even  less 
eminently  gifted  and  constituted  than  our  Saint.     Yet,  Brigid  considered  no 
work  more  servile,  than  that  of  sin  ;  and.  therefore,  she  patiently  commenced, 
prudently   continued,    and   admirably   executed,    her   various   heavy  tasks. 
The  legend  proceeds  to  state,  that  the  hatred  and   envy  of  St.  Brigid  s  step 
mother,  once  aroused,  could  not  easily  be  dispelled  ;  and,  as  the  holy  virgin's 
own  mother  had  become  a  free  woman,  efforts  were  made  to  reduce  her 
innocent  daughter  to  a  state  of  servitude.     As   some  plausible  pretext  was 
even  wanting  for  this  purpose,  after  an  anxious  scrutiny  into  the  maiden  s 
life,  no  single  word  or  action  of  her  step-daughter  being  open  to  reproach, 
resort  was  had  to  calumnies  and  intrigue.12     The  whole  tenor  of  _this  sweet 
child's  life  was  one  of  blameless  virtue ;  yet,   it  was  sought  to  give  a  false 
colouring  to  her  good  actions,  and  to  represent  them  as  worthy  of  blame  and 
punishment.     It  was  said,  although  possessing  no  property  of  her  own,  that 
Brigid  notwithstanding  bestowed  large  alms  on  the  poor,  and  hence  she  must 
have  stolen,  what  she  did.  not  rightly  give  away.     To  her  husband,  the  step- 

9  This  is  more  briefly  related  in  Professor       been  the  daughter  of  a  bard  and  of  a  beauti- 
O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  pp.  9,  10.  ful  captive,  tells  us,    the  latter  was  chased, 

10  These  are  specially  enumerated  in  the  like  another  Agar,  by  her  master,  and  at  the 
Hymn  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen.     SeeColgan's  suggestion  of  his  wife.      See    "  Les   Monies 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita  1'rima  S.  Bri-  d'Occident,"  tome  ii.,  liv.  ix.,  chap,  i.,  p. 
gidre,  sees,  3.  4,  11,  12,  p.  1515.  462.  . 

11  The  Count  de    Montalembert,    whose  "See  "  Life  of  St.  Brigid,     by  an  Irish 
fancy  le.uij  to  the  legend  of  Brigid  having  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  I5>  Io- 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BPJGID. 


mother  represented  a  probability  of  his  house  being  robbed  by  his  own 
daughter,  as  she  abstracted  all  the  value  it  contained  to  enrich  others,  and 
this  under  the  guise  of  piety.  Thus,  it  was  urged,  while  the  maiden  extended 
her  bounty  towards  strangers,  her  own  father  was  likely  to  be  reduced  to 
great  poverty,  unless  he  took  suitable  precautions  against  such  a  result. 
Hence,  the  step-mother  reasoned,  that  prevention  being  better  than  cure,  her 
husband  should  obviate  this  state  of  tilings,  as  it  must  prove  vain  to  mend 
matters,  when  he  must  be  in  actual  need.  In  order  to  prevent  the  absolute 
poverty  of  his  family,  advice  was  given  to  sell  his  daughter  as  a  slave,  and  if 
he  rejected  this  counsel,  it  was  represented,  he  must  soon  experience  those 
difficulties,  attendant  on  a  complete  loss  of  property.  ]5y  these  and  similar 
arguments,  the  insidious  woman  wrought  on  her  husband's  mind,  and  in  a 
short  time,  effecting  the  estrangement  of  his  affections  from  the  holy  maiden, 
she  excited  prejudices  against  JJrigid.  As  it  formerly  happened,  when  the 
enemies  of  Daniel  the  Prophet  represented  him  praying  to  God,  in  opposition 
to  the  king's  edict  ;'3  so  was  it  now  said,  that  the  Saint  gave  alms  for  God's 
sake,  but  at  the  expense  of  her  father.  And,  as  Daniel  had  been  delivered 
to  the  jaws  of  lions  to  be  devoured,  so  was  JJrigid  about  to  be  sold  as  a  slave 
to  strangers ;  yet,  since  both  were  found  faithful  to  God,  therefore  did  the 
Almighty  liberate  them  from  a  fate  to  which  they  had  been  respectively 
doomed.  IJrigid's  father,  however,  would  only  consent  to  sell  his  daughter  to 
a  king  or  chief,  as  being  herself  of  noble  birth.  With  this  view,  a  chariot  was 
prepared,  which  Dubtuch  drove  to  the  neighbouring  castle,  where  his  king, 
named  Dunlang,  then  dwelt.'4  When  he  haul  anived  at  this  place,  Dubtach 
left  his  daughter  in  the  chariot  without,  vihile  he  entered  the  castle  to  pay  his 
liege  respects.  After  discoursing  awhile  on  state  a  flairs  and  things  of  moment, 
their  conversation  was  directed  to  less  important  topics.  Dubtarh  then 
added,  that  he  had  with  him  a  virgin,  who  was  to  be  sold,  and  that  if  it 
pleased  the  king  to  purchase  her,  there  was  every  reason  to  believe  she 
should  not  occupy  the  lowest  place  in  his  estimation  among  his  other  female 
servants.  In  reply  to  the  king's  inquiries,  Dubtach  acknowledged,  also,  that 
she  was  his  own  daughter.  The  king  asked  his  reason  for  selling  her,  and 
was  told,  that  her  parents  feared  she  should  make  him  a  poor  man,  since  she 
abstracted  all  his  worldly  substance  to  bestow  it  on  the  poor.'s  Thereupon, 
those  who  attended  the  king  said  :  "  The  good  report  of  this  your  daughter 
has  reached  all  parts  of  Ireland,  and  raised  her  immeasurably  in  our  estima 
tion  ;  and,  it  is  very  strange,  that  you  her  father  should  accuse  her  of  being 
guilty,  when  all  strangers  concur  in  praising  her."  Whereupon,  the  king 
commanded  her  to  be  brought  into  his  presence.  We  are  told  again,  while 
Brigid  s  father  delayed  within  his  dynast's  castle,  a  poor  man  came  to  ask 
alms  from  the  daughter,  when  she  presented  him  with  her  parent's  sword.'6 
Her  father  afterwards  introduced  Urigid  to  the  king,  but,  on  learning  what 
she  had  done,  Dubtach  felt  greatly  concerned  at  the  loss  of  his  sword.  This 
was  one  of  great  value,  and  the  more  prized,  as  it  had  been  a  present  from 
the  King  of  Leinster,  whom  he  then  visited.  Dubtach  ordered  the  mendicant 
to  be  followed,  that  his  sword  might  be  recovered.  Then  conducting  his 
daughter  to  the  king,  the  chief  angrily  complained  about  the  loss  he  had 

13  Daniel  vi.  character  of  this  whole  narrative  preceding  ; 

14  In  a  note,  we  arc  told  by  Colgan,  that  for,  our  Saint  is   there   represented  as  con- 
the    king,    whom    her    father    visited,    was  founding  ideas  ol  charitable  actions  in  prac- 
Dunlang,  King  of  Leinster,  as  appears  from  tice  with  actual  sins  of  injustice,   not  credit- 
an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,   cap.  xiv.      See  able   to  her  moral   cr  religious    perceptive 
"Trias  Thaumaturga, "  n.  10,  p.  S43-  faculties.     These  are  not  the  sole  objections 

15  Sec  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's   "  Lives  of  that  may  be  taken,   against  such  an  incon- 
the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  I,  p.  16.  gruous   and   incredible   story,   under   all    its 

10  We  can  easily  arrive  at  the  legendary       laboured  and  inventive  characteristics. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


sustained  through  her.  Looking  upon  the  young  maid,  the  king  greatly 
admired  her  candour  and  gravity  of  countenance,  her  habit  and  deportment, 
before  asking  why  she  gave  that  sword  to  a  beggar,  which  lie  had  presented 
to  her  father.  Our  Saint  answered,  "  Do  not  wonder  that  I  have  bestowed 
what  was  in  my  keeping  on  the  poor,  since,  were  it  in  my  power  to  do  so,  I 
should  give  all  possessed  by  you,  O  king,  and  by  my  father,  to  them;  for, 
the  Almighty  will  confer  eternal  rewards  on  those,  who  for  His  sake  give 
temporal  riches/"1?  Then  turning  to  Dubtach,  the  king  exclaimed:  "This 
virgin  is  too  holy  and  exalted  to  be  either  bought  or  sold,  and  I  have  not 
even  means  for  purchasing  her,  because  she  is  more  precious  than  any  amount 
of  silver  or  gold.18  As  for  that  good  sword  which  she  gave  to  the  poor  man, 
I  shall  present  you  with  one  equally  valuable  ;  and,  if  you  abide  by  my 
advice,  you  will  allow  her  to  follow  the  bent  of  her  own  inclinations. "^ 
Approving  this  advice,  and  being  honoured  with  gifts,  Dubtach  returned 
home  with  his  daughter,  whose  freedom  was  thus  assured.20 

In  continuation  of  this  same  narrative,  it  is  stated,  that  having  thus  ob 
tained  her  freedom,  the  virgin  of  Christ  could  conceive  no  state  of  servitude 
worse  than  to  abuse  her  liberty.  Wherefore,  her  human  was  exchanged  for 
a  Divine  service.  She  consecrated  herself  by  vow  to  Jesus,  the  Spouse  of 
Virgins,21  and  being  now  more  at  leisure  to  indulge  the  bent  of  her  inclina 
tions,  she  considered  all  former  religious  exercises  of  too  little  value  in  the  sight 
of  God.  She  macerated  her  body  with  increased  vigils  and  fasting.  Her 
mind  began  to  soar  with  greater  ease  and  fervour  to  pious  contemplation 
and  Divine  love.  She  imitated  the  industry  of  the  bee,  which,  wandering 
through  pleasant  gardens,  collects  their  sweet  juices  from  various  flowers,  in 
order  to  produce  a  still  more  luscious  essence,  in  the  loaded  hive.  The 
holy  girl  is  said  to  have  visited  the  houses  of  pious  virgins,  and  to  have  culled 
admirable  practices  of  virtue  from  the  conduct  of  each,  with  a  view  of  adapt 
ing  them  to  her  own  spiritual  improvement.  Such  was  her  charity,  and 
indefatigable  zeal  in  visiting  the  sick,  that  whenever  she  heard  about  any  of 
those  holy  women  being  confined  to  a  bed  of  illness,  Brigid  immediately 
hastened  to  afford  consolation  to  the  invalid.  Nor  did  she  leave  the  patient, 
until  this  latter  had  either  been  restored  to  health,  or  had  terminated  a  mor 
tal  career. 

In  various  accounts,  it  is  related,  that  Brigid  had  been  sought  in  marriage 
from  her  parents.22  Her  great  wisdom,  not  less  than  her  personal  attrac 
tions,  caused  a  general  admiration.^  A  bard  suitor,  called  Dubthach,  the 
son  of  Luguir.  is  said  to  have  proposed  for  her  in  marriage.  This  man  had 
been  very  celebrated  for  his  learning2-*  and  innocence  of  life.25  He  was 

'?  This  anecdote  is  related  in  L.  Tachct  2I  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of 

de  Barneval's   "Historic  Legendaire  de  1'  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  i,  p.  16. 
Irlande,"  chap.  viii.     The  writer  adds,  that  22  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish 

as    St.    Patrick   represented   Christian    and  Priest,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  23,  24. 
apostolic  perfection,   St.   Brigid  personified  23  See  Le  Comte  de  Montalembert's  "Les 

mercy  and  charity.     See  p.  75.  V vines    d'Occidcnt,"    tome    ii.,    liv.    ix., 

18  The  foregoing  narrative  is  found  related  cnap.  i.,  p.  462. 

in  Professor  O'Looney's   Irish   Life,  where  =4  He  is  generally  known  as  one  of  Ire- 

Dunking  is  called   the  son  of  Lnna.      See  land's    chief    poets,    in    the    fifth    century. 

pp.  15,    ID.    ^  Some  of  the  Poems,  attributed  to  him,  have 

'  See    "  Life  of  St.  Brigid,1'  by  an  Irish  been  published  in  the  Rev.  Tolin  Shearman's 

Priest,  chap,  n.,  pp.  21  to  23.  "  Loca   Patriciana,"  No.  vi.      "  Journal  of 

3  See   Colgans    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  the    Royal    Historical   and    Archaeological 

Qumta  Vita  S.  Bngidce,   cap.  ix. ,  xii. ,  xiv. ,  Association  of  Ireland,"    vol.    iii.     Fourth 

xv.,  xvi.,  xvn.,  xxn.,  xxm.,  xxiv.,  pp.   569  Series,  No.  19,  July,  1874,  pp.  183  to  196. 

0  573-     Some  of  those   circumstances  are  2s  Such  account  is  contained  in  the  Irish 

also  briefly  related  in  the  Third  Life.—  Ibid.  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  chapter  xv..  as  quoted  by 

Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xvi.,  p.  528.  Colgan 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  55 

among  the  foremost  of  Leogaire's  courtiers26  to  render  public  honour  to  St. 
Patrick,  and  to  believe  in  Christ,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  Life  of  our  Irish 
Apostle.2?  Various  versions  of  St.  Brigid  having  been  sought  in  marriage 
survive  in  popular  belief.23  An  Irish  Life  of  the  Virgin  simply  states,  that 
her  suitor  was  a  man  of  good  family,2?  which  indicates — if  the  narrative  be 
accepted — that  her  own  birth  was  respectable,  both  on  her  father's  and 
mother's  side.  This  proposal  is  stated  to  have  been  acceptable  both  to 
Dubtach  and  to  his  sons.30 

On  a  certain  day,  while  she  hastened  on  some  errand  of  mercy,  we  are 
informed,  that  Brigid  met  her  brothers  on  the  way.  These  were  four  in 
number.  One  of  them,  named  Baithen,  seems  to  have  inherited  the  perse 
cuting  disposition  of  his  mother,  and  he  is  said  to  have  addressed  the  others 
in  these  terms  :  "  I  know  not  what  sort  of  superstitious  vanity  urges  our 
sister  to  travel  from  place  to  place  ;  she  avoids  all  familiarity  with  men, 
moreover,  obstinately  living  and  seeming  disposed  to  persevere  in  a  state  of 
life  repugnant  to  natural  feeling.  She  will  not  gratify  father  or  brothers  with 
any  hope  of  her  bearing  children  ;  but,  preferring  her  own  will  to  that  of  the 
Almighty,  and  her  own  laws  to  those  of  nature,  she  loves  a  state  of  virginity, 
with  our  family  dishonour  and  privation,  to  the  more  honourable  condition 
of  becoming  mother  over  a  numerous  offspring.  But,  my  brothers,  let  us 
put  an  end  to  this  egregious  folly,  and  consulting  our  family  interests,  we 
must  overcome  her  designs,  seeking  for  some  noble,  as  a  suitable  husband 
for  her.  This,  I  have  no  doubt,  can  easily  be  accomplished.  Thus,  shall 
he  become  the  son-in-law  of  our  father,  as  also  a  friend  and  an  ally  to  our 
selves."  But,  the  other  young  men  interposed  on  her  behalf  and  said  :  ''  It 
is  neither  manly  nor  brotherly  to  persecute  our  young  sister,  especially  as 
she  has  made  the  better  choice,  while  resolving  to  leave  terrestrial  for  hea 
venly  things,  and  as  she  hath  chosen  Christ  to  be  her  spouse,  rather  than 
man.  Would  it  not  be  base  for  us,  and  dishonourable  as  brothers,  to  divert 
our  sister  from  her  holy  purpose,  even  if  we  could  effect  such  an  object? 
Should  we  fail  to  do  so,  must  it  not  be  equally  disgraceful  to  make  an 
attempt,  over  which  her  constancy  must  prevail,  thus  showing  that  a  single 


26  Colgan  remarks,   however,    thai   when  Umitics  of  a  young  marriage  suitor,  by  set- 

Brigid   had   arrived  at  a  marriageable  age,  ting  out  one  night  for   Castletown  Church, 

this  Dubthach  must  have  been  advanced  in  which,  it  is  said,  was  also  called  CiLL  b|\6in. 

years.      See    "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  She  passed  by  a  small  river,    taking  its  rise 

Vita  S.  Brigid;e,   cap.  xvii.,  and  n.  II,  pp.  at    Sliabh   (iuileim,  and  running  in  a  south- 

528,  529i  543-  ca>t  direction,    between  Faughart  Hill  and 

2?  The  Sixth  Hexameter  Life  of  our  Saint  Castletown,  falling  into  the  bay  of  Dundalk. 

commences   its   narrative   of  the    foregoing  She  knelt  by  the  banks  of  this  stream,   and 

circumstances  with  these  lines  : —  escaped  her  pursuer.     At  the  place,  where 

this   happened,  a   much  frequented   station 

"  Proximus    huic   fuerat  juvenis,    qui   jura  used  to  be  held,  until  the  landed  proprietor 

parentum  cut  down  certain  bushes  by  the  stream,   and 

Unica  cura  fuit  ;  pulsabat  virginis  aures  altered  the  whole  local   appearance.     It   is 

Per  se,   perque  patrcm,   per  fratrcs  atque  said,  that  after  this  circumstance,  St.  Brigid 

sorores,  remained   at   CilL  b^v'nn,    while  her  sister 

Munera     muneribus     promittens     addere  continued  to  live  at  CilL  111iiii\e,  or  Fough- 

plura,  art.     See  "  Louth  Letters  containing  Infor- 

Auribus  purpureas,  argenti  pondera,   vcs-  mation   relative  to   the    Antiquities   of  the 

tes,  County,   collected   during  the    Progress   of 

Divitiasquc     domus,     millenos     prredia,  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1835-1836,"  vol.  i., 

servos."  pp.  287,  288. 

29  Such     is     the     account     in    Professor 

:8  Thus,  the  people  about  Faughart  have  O'Looney's  MS.  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  15, 

a  tradition,   that  while  St.  Brigid  and   her  16. 

sister  lived  in  a  church  at  this  place,  the  3'3  Ibid.      Sec,    likewise,    Bishop    Forbes' 

holy  virgin  was  obliged  to  shun  the  impor-  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  288. 


56  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 

girl  may  obtain  a  victory  over  four  men  ?  Let  our  sister  serve  God  in  the 
way  she  purposes,  and,  by  our  goodness  towards  her,  let  us  seek  her  happi 
ness,  for  if  we  attempt  to  disturb  it,  the  guilt  will  rest  on  our  souls."  This 
discussion  became  exceedingly  animated  as  the  subject  of  it  approached.  A 
quarrel  seemed  likely  to  ensue,  when  the  holy  virgin,  who  had  come  up  to 
them,  besought  the  Almighty  most  earnestly  to  restore  peace  among  her 
brothers,  and  to  manifest  His  Providence  in  her  regard.  31  Immediately,  as 
the  legend  relates,  one  of  her  eyes  became  distempered,  and  it  disappeared.^2 
So  shocking  an  occurrence,  attended  with  a  consequent  deformity  of  features, 
which  before  had  been  so  singularly  beautiful,  caused  that  brother,  who  had 
so  anxiously  sought  to  engage  her  in  a  married  state  to  change  his  intentions. 
Her  other  brethren,  who  had  contended  for  our  Saints  freedom  of  choice, 
on  seeing  her  beautiful  features  thus  sadly  disfigured  and  injured,  felt  the 
greatest  compassion  for  her.  They  cried  out,  that  this  privation  could  not 
have  happened,  if  she  had  not  been  opposed  in  her  desire  of  leading  a  single 
life.33  They  lamented,  likewise,  no  water  was  near,  to  wash  stains  of  blood, 
which  trickled  from  her  face,  thus  to  assuage  her  pain,  if  they  could  not 
repair  that  injury,  endured  by  their  beloved  sister.  34  But,  the  Virgin  of 
Christ,  knew  that  her  holy  Spouse  would  be  her  protector.  That  she  might 
not  leave  her  brothers  anxious  and  inconsolable  on  her  account,  Brigid  de 
sired  them  to  dig  the  ground  where  they  stood.  With  full  reliance  ^in  the 
Divine  clemency,  our  Saint  offered  her  prayers  to  heaven,  when  He,  who 
formerly  produced  water  from  the  desert  rock,  at  the  stroke  of  His  prophet,  33 
now  brought  forth  a  stream  from  the  dry  soil,  to  reward  the  confidence  of 
His  favoured  child.  Her  three  friendly  brothers,  amazed  at  this  miracle, 
and  full  of  fraternal  affection  towards  their  sister,  at  once  began  to  apply 
that  water  to  wash  her  bleeding  face,  when  to  their  still  greater  astonishment, 
both  her  eyes  seemed  perfect,  as  before  the  late  privation.36  Full  of  joy  at 
this  discovery,  they  gave  thanks  to  God.  But,  the  brother,  who  inherited 
his  mother's  malignant  and  intractable  nature,  made  use  of  reproachful  ex 
pressions  towards  them  and  towards  our  Saint.  For  such  reproaches  how 
ever,  he  was  miraculously  punished,  by  the  instant  loss  of  one  of  his  eyes 
This  chastisement  humbled  him  so  much,  that  henceforward  no  serious 
obstacle  was  interposed  to  prevent  his  sister  from  following  the  bent  of  her 
inclinations,  and  that  course  of  her  life,  decreed  by  heaven.  3? 
_  The  whole  course  of  Brigid's  career  was  destined  to  be  traced  out  by 
signs  from  heaven.  In  the  most  recently  written  lives  of  our  saints  Vl-e  are 

..  f  T"  .Bjsh°P  Forbes>  "Kalendars  of  Scot-       would  not  be  entertained  by  Bri-id      When 

he  I  oTd  tS>     U  M  StatCd>   ?VBri^d  aSked       CarneStly  Pressed  to  yield  on  thfs  point   the 
the  Lord  to  send  her  some  deformity,   so  as       Saint  prayed  the  Almighty  to  inflict  on  her 

SeeT  288     AlTo^Sunnl7  °f  /"'"  S"^  1°^  ^l  def°r^»  *&£  would  free 

beep.  288.    Also,  Supplementum  Breviarii  her  from  man's  solicitations      Then  one  of 

Romam  pro  H.berma,  Lect  iv  her  eyes  melted  in  her  head      Still  the  v£ 

the  Sa'intf^ot  ""rT  G°Uld  "      HVCS  °f  gi"'  Prefer™g  lo^  of  corporal  beauty  o  that 

»S?ee  "  L  fe  of'st  "  $M?  W'  "S  •  i  '^  S°Ul>S  virtUC'   felt  ^isfied  4h  thfe 

Priest   chap  t       x«S       7  M       *  F7ltion-     H^  ^her  knowing  this  permit- 

° 


n     by  Cogitosus, 
it  is  merely  said,    that  her  parents   «  more  35  See  Exodus  xvii 

*  Thcsein^dcnts  are  somewhat  differently 


m 

daughter  in  marriage;  but,  although  his  suit  p    C7\  S       ' 

was  favoured  by  her  father  and  brothers,  it  38  As  published  by  Colgan. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID.  57 

told,  that  seven  holy  virgins3?  proposed  to  themselves  a  course  of  spiritual 
discipline  under  St.  Brigid's  rule,  being  animated  with  a  like  spirit,  and  wish 
ing  to  effect  their  sanctification,  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  pious 
lady.40  For,  it  was  now  universally  acknowledged,  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
wrought  many  wonderful  works  through  our  saint,  and  that  all  her  designs 
prospered,  through  Divine  inspiration.  The  illustrious  virgin  considered  and 
approved  their  purposes  and  wishes.  With  the  greatest  readiness  and  pleasure, 
thinking  that  she  could  best  promote  their  spiritual  interests  and  her  own, 
she  resolved  to  take  the  veil  with  them,  and  to  lead  a  life,  directed  by  con 
ventual  rule.  No  sooner  had  their  project  been  mutually  agreed  to,  than  it 
was  deemed  proper  to  hasten  without  delay  to  a  certain  bishop,  named 
Maccalle,41  and  by  others,  Macculleus.42  Full  of  pious  fervour,  the  postu 
lants  sought  his  benediction,  and  requested  through  his  offices,  they  might 
be  consecrated  to  Christ.  But,  this  bishop,43  not  knowing  their  previous 
course  of  life,  and  fearing  those  tender  virgins  were  urged  through  some  im 
pulsive  motive,  rather  than  by  an  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  refused  to 
comply  at  once  with  the  prayer  of  their  petition.  For  he  knew,  with  the 
Apostle,  that  episcopal  hands  should  not  be  lightly  imposed  on  each  person 
applying,44  nor  should  it  be  supposed,  that  every  spirit  was  from  God,45  until 
a  sufficient  probation  took  place.  When  St.  Brigid  found  this  natural  hesita 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  bishop,  with  a  firm  trust,  she  betook  herself  to  the 
oft-repeated  expedient  of  prayer.40  She  besought  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  she 
had  been  inspired  to  undertake  a  course  chosen,  thai  she  might  also  have 
the  consolation  to  achieve  its  desired  results.  The  Almighty  never  fails  to 
sustain  those,  who  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  That  the  interior 
fervour  of  this  holy  virgin  might  be  manifested  by  exterior  signs,  while  she 
and  her  companions  prayed  in  the  church,4?  a  column  of  fire  shone  above 
her  head,  and  extended  even  towards  the  roof  of  that  sacred  edifice,  to  the 
great  joy  and  astonishment  of  those,  who  chanced  to  be  present.45  In  ad 
miration  at  this  miracle,  the  bishop  made  diligent  enquiries  about  our  saint's 


39  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  MS.  Life,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "     Sccunda 
the  number  is  not  specified,  pp.  17,  18.  Vita   S.  Brigidie,    cap.    iii.,    p.    519.     The 

40  A  certain  writer  of  our  saint's  Acts  says  First  and  Fifth  Life  name  him   Maccaleus. 
she  had   only  three  companions  when   pro-  See  ibid.     Vita  Prima  S.  Brigido.',  strophe 
fessed.      "  Et  assumptit  secum  tribus  puellis  8,    p.   515.     Vita  Cjuinta  .S.   Brigida:,  cap. 
perrexit  ad    Episcopum    Machillan,    Sancti  xxviii.,  p.  ^73. 

Patricii  discipulum." — Capgrave's  "VitaS.  44  See  I  Tim.  iii. 

Brigidce,"  sec.  4.  45  See  I  Cor.  xiv. 

41  This  seems   the  more  correct  form   of  46  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life,  it 
title  ;    as    evidenced    by    the    Festilogy    of  is  stated,  that   St.  Brigid,  through  humility 
/Engus,    the    Martyrologies  of  Tallagh,    of  remained  last  of  her  companions  to  receive 
Cashel,  of  Marianus  O'Gorman,  of  Charles  the  veil  from  Bishop  Mel,  until  a  column  of 
Maguire,    and  of  Donegal,   at   the  251!!   of  fire  arose  from  her  head  towards  the  church- 
April.     The  same  title  will  be  found  in   St.  roof,  pp.  17,  18. 

Ultan's  Life  of  St.  Brigid  (cap.  18),  and  in  *<  In  one  instance,  the  Third  Life  states, 

all  her  Irish  written  acts.  she  had  eight  companions,  who  received  the 

42  The  Acts  of  this  saint  will  be  found  at  veil    with    St.    Brigid.      There,    too,    it    is 
the  25th  of  April.     In  the  edition  of  Cogi-  written,  .when   she   had    read    prayers    and 
tosus,  by  Colgan,  the  name  is  written  J\Iac-  touched  the  wooden  step  of  the  altar  with 
chille  and  in  that  of  Messingham  and  Cani-  her  hand,  it  became,  as  it  were,  green  wood, 
sins,  he  is  called  JMacca.     In  the  First  Life  and    it    continued    without    decay    to    the 
of  our  saint,  by  Brogan  Cloen,  he  is  called  writer's  time.      St.   Brigid's  eye   is   said  to 
lllAccAille.     In  a  MS.  of  St.  Hubert,  he  is  have  been  healed,  when  she  received  the  re- 
designated,  Mackdle,  and  in  one  belonging  ligious  habit.      See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thau- 
to   the   Monastery  of  St.  Amand,  Alaccille,  maturga."      Tertia   Vita   S.    Brigidse,    cap. 
while  in  Surius,  the  name   is  written,  Ala-  18,  p.  529. 

48  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish 

4J  Called   Macchillc   by  Cogitosus.     See  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  25,  26. 


LIFE   OF  ST.   BRIGID. 


parents  and  her  manner  ofliving,  from  the  time  of  her  infancy.  One  of  his 
clerics  informed  him  she  was  Brigid,  the  wonder-worker,  and  a  daughter  to 
Dubtach.  Hearing  this,  the  bishop  was  most  anxious  to  comply  with  the 
desires  of  our  saint,  whose  good  fame  seemed  to  herald  her  future  career  of 
usefulness  in  the  Church.  He  placed  a  veil  on  the  heads  of  herself  and  of 
her  companions,^  as  he  knew  heaven  had  already,  in  a  miraculous  manner, 
decreed  approval  of  this  ministerial  agency.  It  happened,  at  the  same  time, 
while  sacramentary  rites  of  benediction  took  place, 5°  our  holy  virgin  applied 
her  hand  to  the  wood  which  sustained  the  altar,51  and  which  appeared  quite 
dry  and  seasoned,52  as  it  had  long  being  stripped  of  its  leaves  and  bark.ss 
It  is  said,  immediately  upon  being  touched  by  St.  Brigid,  that  it  became 
virescent.54  On  a  subsequent  occasion,  when  the  church,  where  such  oc 
currence  took  place,  had  been  consumed  by  fire,  that  particular  portion 
escaped  the  flames.55  Thus,  as  he  had  formerly  wrought  great  miracles 
under  the  Old  dispensation,  Almighty  God  would  chose  to  continue  his 
works  under  the  New,  through  all  time  loving  His  elect  and  affording  His 
protection  to  them.  While  the  children  of  Israel  journeyed  towards  the 
promised  land,  He  preceded  them  by  a  pillar  of  fire  fj  and  while  St.  Brigid 
directed  her  course  towards  the  heavenly  country  of  her  adoption,  by  the 
column  of  fire  ascending  heavenwards,  He  directed  her  thoughts  from  a 
terrene  to  a  celestial  ambition.  The  Third  Life  relates,  three  virgins5?  ac 
companied  her,  on  their  visit  to  Bishops  Mel58  and  Melchu.  An  Irish  Life 


43  In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  it  is  re 
lated,  how  she  took  with  her  three  virgins, 
with  whom  she  went  to  the  territory  of  the 
sons  of  Neill,  and  to  the  saints,  Bishops 
Mel  and  Melchu.  These  are  stated  to  have 
been  disciples  of  St.  Patrick,  and  to  have 
had  a  disciple  named  Macaille,  who  said  to 
Mel:  "  Lo,  the  holy  virgins  are  without, 
who  wish  to  receive  the  veil  of  virginity  at 
your  hands."  When  he  had  introduced 
them  before  Bishop  Mel,  and  while  the  latter 
was  looking  at  them,  on  a  sudden,  a  column 
of  fire  seemed  to  surmount  the  head  of 
Brigid. 

50  The  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint  has  it,  "  in 
ter   ipsa    benedictionum    sacramenta,"    kc. 
"VYe  are  not  to  understand,  that   the  profes 
sion  or  clothing  of  a  virgin  is  to  be  classed 
amongst  the  sacraments  of  the  Church,  pro 
perly  so  called  ;  but,  it  is  assigned  to   the 
sacramentalia — distinguished   from    the   sa 
cramenta.     By  sacramentalia  are  understood 
a  variety  of  benedictions  and  consecrations, 
which    do   not    confer   sacramental    graces, 
peculiar  to   the   effective  administration   of 
the  seven  sacraments.      See,  in  reference  to 
this    distinction,     Devoti's    "  Institutionum 
Canonicarum,"  libri   iv. ,  tomus  i.,   lib.    ii., 
tit.  ii.,  sec.  i.,  pp.  365,   366.     If  the  word 
sacramenta  be  found   in   Laurence  of  Dur 
ham's  original  MS.,  it  seems  to  have  been 
improperly   introduced    for    sacramentalia. 
However,    such    verbal    introduction    may 
have  been  the  error  of  a  copyist. 

51  See   Camerarius,  "  De  Statu  Hominis, 
veteris  simul  ac  novffi  Ecclesioe,  et  Infidelium 
Conversione,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.   ii.,   p. 
140. 


52  See  the   "Life  of  St.   Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  27,  28. 

5;  In  the  following  Latin  verses,  R.  P. 
Bandinus  (Jualfredutius,  S.J.,  has  recorded 
this  miracle  : 

"  Arida    quod    tencro    revirescunt    robora 

tactu, 

Inquc  suo  vivit  stipite  vita  redux  ; 
Virginese  memoranda  colas  miracula  dex- 

trrc  ; 

U rentes  nunquam  senserat  ilia  faces." 
— Lib.  i.,  "  Sacrorum  Mensium,"  pars.  i. 

54  Here  there  is  a  comparison  between  the 
wood  becoming  green,  to  show  the  purity  of 
those  holy  virgins  present,  and  between  the 
rod  of  Aaron,  putting  forth  leaves  and  fruit. 
A  writer  adds  :  "quia  ilia  qua1  per  eandem 
virgam  prsesignabatur,  et  virgo  simul  et 
mater  fuit. "  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga."  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigid cc,  cap. 
xxviii.,  xxix.,  pp.  573,  574.  Also,  ibid. 
"Vita  Friina  S.  Brigidse,"  sees.  8,  9,  p. 
575-  "Vita  Secunda  S.  BrigidK,"  cap. 
iii.,  p.  519. 

53  This  is  alluded  to  in  our  saint's  various 
offices,   and  it  is  generally  stated,   such  a 
mirr.cle  reconciled  her  parents  to  that  happy 
choice  of  life  she  had  made.     Also,  it  is  re 
lated,  in  the  "  Chronica  Gcneralis  Mundi," 
and  by  Petrus  de  Natalibus. 

56  See  Exodus,  xiii.,  21,  22. 

57  Numerical  accounts  vary.     Colgan  ob 
serves,  that  in  the  Irish   Life  of   our  saint, 
cap.  xiii.,  in  the  Fifth  Life,  even  in  this  same 
Third    Life,   and    in    every  account  of  St. 
Brigid,  seven  other  virgins  are  described  as 
having  been  veiled  with  her. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BR1GID. 


59 


of  St.  Brigid  states,  that  she  was  veiled  in  the  territory  of  Feratulach  ;3?  while 
Mel  and  Melchu  lived  in  a  town  of  Medi  or  Midio.60  Regarding  the  fore 
going  incidents  of  our  saint's  life,  in  rather  a  different  manner,  the  Sixth  or 
Hexamater  Life  of  this  holy  virgin  presents  us  with  another  narrative.61 
However,  notwithstanding  apparent  inconsistencies,  Colgan  is  of  opinion, 
that  the  latter  may  also  be  reconciled  with  former  statements  ;  for,  as  this 
illustrious  virgin  was  to  be  espoused  to  Christ,  might  not  St.  Patrick  have 
entrusted  the  charge  of  such  an  office  to  his  disciple  and  nephew,  Bishop 
Mel,62  and  might  not  the  latter  have  deputed  it  to  his  disciple  St.  Maccalleus  ? 
Thus,  to  each  of  them  might  be  attributed  a  part  in  the  ceremony  of  veiling, 
although  it  be  immediately  and  properly  referable  to  the  ministry  of  St. 
Maccalleus. 6j 

Some  modern  Anglo-Scottish  writers,  taking  Hector  Boece64  as  guide, 
relate,  that  our  St.  Brigid  of  Kildare  was  veiled  by  St.  Macchilla,  Bishop  of 
Sodor,  in  the  Isle  of  Mona,65  or  Man,  about  the  year  443.  But,  the  casual 
affinity  of  name  seems  to  have  occasioned  this  error.  As  already  seen,  the 
bishop  who  veiled  St.  Brigid  was  called  Maccalle  or  Maccalleus  ;  while,  the 
Bishop  of  Sodor — that  being  the  episcopal  see  of  the  Isle  of  Man — is  called 
Machaldus  and  Magiul,  by  Joceline,66  Mac-fill  by  Probtis/7  and  Mac-Cuill 
in  an  Irish  MS.  of  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.63  Although  both  of  those  persons 
alluded  to  had  been  bishops  and  flourished  in  St.  Patrick's  time  ;  it  is  certain, 
that  this  Maccullius  or  Macaldus,  Bishop  of  Sodor  or  Man,  was  altogether 
different  from  St.  Maccalleus,6^  the  consecrator  of  St.  Brigid,  not  only  in  re 
ference  to  time,  place  and  acts,  but,  even  as  regards  the  name.  Differences 
between  them  in  point  of  time  show  that  they  must  be  distinguished.  For 
St.  Maccalleus,70  the  consecrator  of  St.  Brigid,  was  bishop  before  he  veiled 


5s  In  Professor  O'Looncy's  Irish  MS.  Life, 
not  only  is  it  stated,  that  St.  Brigid  went  to 
take  the  veil  from  Bishop  Mel,  but  it  is  even 
asserted,  he  bestowed  on  her  the  honour  of 
a  bishop,  "above  all  other  women,  so  that 
it  is  the  honour  of  a  bishop  the  men  of  Erin 
give  to  the  successor  of  St.  Brigid  ever  since," 
pp.  17,  1 8.  Such  account  indicates  great 
antiquity  for  this  Irish  Life.  However,  it 
must  be  remarked,  that  St.  Brigid  received 
confirmation  from  St.  Mel,  and  hence  pro 
bably  arose  some  confusion  between  his  hav 
ing  conferred  orders  and  the  veil  on  this 
pious  virgin,  as  stated  by  some  old  writers. 
See  "Obits  and  Martyrology  of  the  Cathe 
dral  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  edited  by 
John  Clarke  Crosthwaite  and  Dr.  James 
Hcnthorn  Todd.  Introduction,  p.  xcviii. , 
and  n.  (y),  ibid. 

59  In    Professor    O'Looney's    Irish    MS. 
Life  it  is  called  Tealach  Midhe,  pp.  17,  18. 

60  By  this  is  probably  to   be   understood, 
the  district  of  the  Methians  in  Ultonia.     See 
"Trias  Thaumaturga."    Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri- 
giclffi,  cap.  xviii.,  and  nn.    12,    13,  pp.  529, 

543- 

61  The  Irish   Life  of  St.    Brigid   in   the 
Leabhar  Breac  likewise  renders  some   por 
tions  of  it  different  from  that  in  the  Book  of 
Lismore.      In  the  latter  we  read  from   Pro 
fessor  O'Looney's  English  translation  :  "  On 
the  eighth  hour  Brigid  was  born,  and  on  a 
particular    Wednesday    in    the    eighteenth 
[year  of  her  age]  she  took  the  veil,  in  the 


eightieth  [year  of  her  age]  she  went  into 
heaven.  On  the  eighth,  Brigid  was  conse 
crated  under  the  eight  beatitudes  [foods]  of 
the  Gospel,  which  she  fulfilled,  and  the  food 
of  mercy  is  what  Brigid  used  to  call  them," 
pp.  17/18. 

62  See  on  this  subject,  Rev.  James   lien- 
thorn  Todd's  "  St.  Patrick,  Apostle  of  Ire 
land."      Introductory  Dissertation,  pp.   n 
to  14. 

63  As  the  native  word  mac  signifies  a  son, 
hence   Tirechan,    who    wrote    St.    Patrick's 
Acts  a  thousand  years  before  Colgan's  time, 
when  speaking  of  a  certain  church  founded 
by  the  Irish  Apostle,  in  the  southern  part  of 
Meath,  observes,  "in  qua  S.  Brigida  pallium 
csepit  sub  manibus  filii  Caille  in   Uisnech 
Midhe." 

64  See  "Ilistoria  Scotoram,"  lib.  ix.,  fol. 

158- 

6s  According  to  Camerarius,  the  sepulchre 
of  the  Scottish  kings  was  in  the  Island  of 
Mona.  See  "  De  Statu  Hominis,  veteris 
simul  ac  nova?  Ecclesio!,  et  Sanctis  Regni 
Scotia}  ;"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  ii.,  p.  141. 

66  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap.  cli.  p.  98. 

c?  See  ibid.  Vita  S.  Patricii,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
x.,  p.  53- 

68  Lib.  iii.,  cap.  35. 

69  lie  was  a  disciple  to  St.  Mel  and  to 
Melchu,  the  nephews  of  St.  Patrick. 

70  He  lived,  died  and  was  venerated  in  a 
part  of  Leinster,  called  Ifalge,  in  a  place 


6o 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


her  7<  and  he  died  in  the  year  4S9-72     But,  St.  MacCuill  or  Maccaldus,  after 
wards  Bishop  of  Man,  it  is  stated,  does  not  seem   to  have   been   baptized, 
much  less  consecrated  as  bishop,  when  St.  Brigid  had  been  veiled 
sides,  circumstances  of  their  lives  and  deaths,  their  acts  and  the  places  in 
which  they  flourished,  evidence  their  non-identity.  _ 

Bro^an  Clocn  states, 74  that  Maccalleus  placed  the  veil  over  St.  Bngids 
head  ;75  while  the  Calendar  of  Cashel  and  Maguire?6  corroborate  such  an 
account  By  both  the  latter,  too,  are  we  informed,"  that  this  holy  man  had 
been  venerated  at  Cruachan  Brigh-eile,?3  now  Croghan  Hill,"  m  the  former 
territory  of  Hy-Failge  or  Offaly>  In  like  manner,  Tirechan  and  Cogitosusai 
assert,  that  the  virgin  received  her  religious  dress,  at  the  hands  ot  Bishop 
Maccalle.82  To  one  well  versed  in  the  Irish  language,  it  will  be  found,  that 
both  names,  Maccalle  and  Macald  are  distinct,  although  from  their  ambiguity, 
or  supposed  affinity,  they  have  led  writers  to  confound  St.  Maccalleus  with 
St.  Maccaldus.83 


called  Cruachan,  as  appears  from  several 
Lives  of  St.  Brigicl,  published  by  Colgan. 
In  no  writer  do  we  read  of  his  having  been 
a  robber,  in  any  part  of  Ulster,  called  Mag- 
inis,  or  that  he  there  exercised  his  vocation, 
alter  St.  Brigid  had  been  veiled  and  rendered 
renowned  by  her  miracles,  or  after  St. 
Patrick  traversing  Minister  had  returned  to 
Ulster. 

71  "While    Ussher  assigns   this   veiling   to 
A.D.  467,  Dr.  Lanigan  thinks  it  may  be  ad 
mitted,  that  she  was  professed  in  the  year 
469.      See   "Ecclesiastical  History  of   Ire 
land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  p.  386. 

72  As  the  ' '  Annals  of  the   Four  Masters" 
have  it  from   those   of  Senat-mac-magnus, 
of  Clonmacnoise,  and  of  the  Island. 

73  By  Ussher,    Maccaille    has    been    con 
founded  with  Maguil  or  Maccaldus,  Bishop 
of  Man.     In  this  island,  it  is  said,  likewise, 
our  saint  was   veiled.      See   Dr.    Lanigan' s 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,''  vol.  i., 
chap.  viii. ,  sec.  iii.,  and  mi.  39,  40,  pp.  386, 
388. 

?4  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga. ' 
Ilymnus,  sen  Prima  Vita  S.  BrigicUv,  p.  515. 

75  Regarding  St.  Brigid's  virtues  and  mira 
cles,  a  short   time   after    this  holy  virgin's 
death,  we  find  the  following   Latin  version 
of  his  Irish  Hymn  : — 

"  Posuit  avibas  Maccalleus  velum 
Super  caput  Sancta;  Brigidce 
Clarus  est  in  ejus  gestis  ; 
In  cciolo  exaudita  est  ejus  petitio 
Deum  preeor  in  omnibus  adversis, 
Modis  omnibus,  quibus  valet  os  meum, 
Profundiorem  pelago,  inagnihce  praxli- 

cabilem. 

Trinum  et  Unum.     Veridica  narratio." 
—Ibid. 

76  Commenting  on   St.  /Engus'  "  Festi- 
logy,"  he  calls  it  "the  white  veil." 

77  At  the  2Sth  of  April. 

?8  In  a  letter,  dated  Tullamore,  January 
4th,  1838,  John  O'Donovan  identifies  Crua 
chan  Bri  Eile  with  the  present  conspicuous 
Hill  of  Croghan,  in  the  parish  of  Croghan, 
mid  in  the  barony  of  Lower  Philipstown. 


It  lay  within  the  ancient  territory  of  Ofalia. 
It  rises  on  the  confines  of  ancient  Mcath 
and  Leinster.  See  "Letters  containing 
Information  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of 
the  King's  County,  collected  during  the 
Progress  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837," 
vol.  i.,  pp.  104  to  115. 

73  On  the  very  summit  of  Croghan  Hill  is 
a  small  moat  or  sepulchral  iitimiliis.  This 
seems  to  have  been  the  monument  of  Congal, 
alluded  to  in  the  "  Laoidh  na  Leacht,"  or 
Poem  of  the  Monuments. 

Itv.rc   Congo.ilc-, 
•po|\  V>i\i    CiLe  -j\o    ]\oenrA. 
—  Ibid.,  p.  no. 

f'°From  the  top  or  moat  on  Croghan  Hill, 
the  whole  level  plain  or  cl<\i]\  of  Ofalia  and 
its  natural  boundaries  maybe  seen  ataglanee. 
It  stretches,  nearly  as  level  as  a  lake  south 
wards,  to  the  foot  of  the  Slieve  Bloom  Moun 
tains,  and  to  the  Sugar  Loaf  shaped  Hills,  at 
Killone,  in  the  Queen's  County,  and  east 
wards  to  the  Hill  of  Allen,  in  Kildare 
county.  See  ibid.,  p.  112.  Dr.  O'Donovan 
describes  the  extent  of  this  territory,  which 
he  illustrates  with  hand-drawn  maps  from 
pp.  24  to  47,  ibid. 

ai  He  calls  it  "  a  white  one."  Sec  Col 
gan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Secunda 
Vita  S.  Brigida1,"  cap.  iii.,  p.  519. 

"-  "We  have  already  seen,  that  the  Irish 
Martyrologists  name  the  saint  venerated  at 
the  25th  of  April  Maccaille,  i.e.,  films  Caille. 
Colgan  remarks,  that  Mac  signifies  son,  and 
Caille  is  either  the  proper  name  of  a  man, 
or  if  it  be  appellative,  it  has  the  signification 
of  (i  veil :  so  that  in  Latin,  Mac-caille  could 
be  rendered  filins  veil,  he  having  obtained 
such  a  n;m,c  perhaps,  from  the  circumstance 
of  his  having  veiled  St.  Brigid. 

83  The  Bishop  of  Man,  in  St.  Patrick's 
Irish  Life  and  elsewhere,  is  called  Mac- 
cuille  ;  by  Probus  Mac-fill  or  Macfail ;  and 
by  Joceline  he  is  named  Macaldus,  in  Latin  ; 
thus  by  use  of  the  single  c,  it  seems  to  be 
supposed,  that  in  Irish,  he  was  called  Ma- 
caill  or  JMac-aild.  The  Irish  word  Call, 
which  in  the  genetive  case  becomes  Cuill, 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


6r 


The  profession  of  St.  Brigid  is  held  to  have  occurred  A.D.  46 7. s-*  or 
possibly  A.D.  469. £5  That  our  Apostle  St.  Patrick56  officiated  on  this  occa 
sion87  has  been  affirmed  by  such  writers  as  John  Brampton88  and  Henry  of 
Marlborough.^  According  to  another  account,'-'0  she  was  veiled  by  two  holy 
bishops,  who  were  disciples  of  St.  Patrick.  In  his  Life  of  the  saint,  Ultan 
relates,  that  she  received  the  veil  from  Bishop  Mel^1  a  disciple  of  St. 
Patrick  ;?2  and  the  same  statement  is  to  be  found  among  her  other  acts,  in 
the  Irish  language.  This  representation  has  been  adopted  by  Harris. 9J 
However,  the  story  about  St.  Mel  of  Ardagh  having  veiled  her  is  contra 
dicted  by  the  best  authorities,  and  it  is  not  even  worthy  of  refutation,  in  Dr. 
Lanigair's  opinion.'-'-*  It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  we  have  not  on  record  the  exact 
name  of  that  church, 95  in  which  St.  Brigid  made  her  religious  profession. 
Cruachan  Brigh-eile  it  is  usually  called.'-16  From  the  account  left  us  by 
Cogitosus,  that  church'-??  would  seem  to  have  been  renowned  for  religious 
pilgrimages  in  his  day.  and  to  have  been  the  scene  of  numerous  miracles, 
wrought  on  behalf  of  the  devout  clients  of  our  saint.  Still,  this  unnoted  church 
has  possibly  been  identified.'-^  It  is  thought  to  have  been  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  conspicuous  Hill  of  Croghan,-^  near  Tyrrell's  Pass,  on  the  confines  of 


has  the  same  signification  as  ;/;//;  and  the 
word  Caill,  the  same  as  r.vv./;  the  word 
faol  as  Ti '<>//';  whilst  all,  aid  or  alt  means  a 
forest.  Wherefore,  Mac-cnill,  Mac-caill, 
Mac-aill  m  Mac-aild  may  have  the  signifi 
cation  <.->{  flints  niicis,  filiits  svli'a',  films  lufr, 
or  ft//' us  .r, /////.I-,  in  Latin  ;  as  it  the  name 
had  been  bestowed  on  him,  "ex  eo  quod  in 
sylvis  et  saltibus  latrocinia  exercebat. " 
Colgan  adds,  dial  these  notices  are  given 
by  him,  not  because  he  would  assert,  that 
he  had  furnished  the  right  origin  for  such 
proper  names  ;  but,  because  they  show  dif 
ferences  existing  between  them,  and  may  be 
adopted,  until  better  interpretations  or  de 
rivations  are  offered.  With  those  two  names 
of  the  saints  in  question,  and  from  many  ap 
pellatives  of  saints  in  Ireland,  which  com 
mence  with  J/<?<-,  scarcely  one — at  least 
adopting  its  etymological  origin — can  be 
considered  a  name  proper  to  whom  it  may 
be  applied,  but  many  are  conventional. 

84  See  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesi- 
aruni    Antiquitates,"    cap.     xvi.,     p.    336. 
Also,  Index  Chronologicus,  A.D.  cccci.xvn. 

85  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His 
tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  section 
iii.,  p.  386. 

80  Joceline  relates,  that  St.  Brigid  was 
present  at  a  sermon  of  St.  Patrick,  in  a 
place  called  Finnabhair.  Afterwards,  St. 
Patrick  went  to  Minister,  where,  as  well  as 
in  other  Irish  provinces,  he  spent  nine 
years.  See  Sexta  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap. 
xciv.,  xcv.,  pp.  86,  87.  Colgan's  "Trias 
Thaumaturga." 

87  Some  writers  place  St.  Patrick's  death 
so  early  as  A.D.  458,  while  others   say  that 
he  lived  until  A.D.  493.     See  "  Life  of  St. 
Brigid,"   by  an  Irish   Priest,    chap,    iii.,    p. 
28. 

88  See  "  Ilistoria  Joronalensis,"  ad  ami. 
1185. 

8»  In  his  "  Chronicle,"  at  A.D.  493. 


-•°  See  "  Ily-lorie  plurimorum  Sanctorum 
noviter  et  laboriose  ex  diversis  libris  col- 
lecte. ''  Louvanii,  A.D.  1485,  410. 

'•>'  See,  in  reference  to  this  account,  "  The 
Hook  of  Obits  and  Martyrology  of  the  Ca 
thedral  C'hurch  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  edited 
by  John  Clarke  Crosthwaite  and  Rev.  James 
Ilenthorn  Todd.  Introduction,  pp.  xcvi. 
to  cii.,  with  accompanying  notes. 

'-' See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap.  xviii.,  p.  519. 

9*  See  Harris'  Ware.  Vol.  iii.,  "  Writers 
of  Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  12. 

9-»  He  adds  :  "It  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Third  Life  (cap.  18),  with  the  author  of 
which  Mel  appears  to  have  been  a  great  fa 
vourite Vet,  however 

partial  to  Mel,  it  mentions  Maccaille,  but 
makes  him  a  disciple  of  Mel,  and  represents 
him  as  introducing  St.  lirigid  to  him." — 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  p.  3^8. 

95  In  the  Second  Life,  it  is  stated,  while 
the  saint  made  her  vows  to  heaven,  she 
touched  a  wooden  support,  on  which  its 
altar  rested.  Cogitosus  says,  in  his  time, 
this  wood  was  still  green,  as  if  it  had  not 
been  cut  down  and  barked,  but  had  yet  re 
mained  attached  to  its  roots  and  growing. 

9°  Bri  Eile  or  Croghan  was  the  church  of 
St.  Maccaille.  See  "Letters  containing 
Information  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of 
the  King's  County,  collected  during  the 
Progress  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837." 
John  O'Donovan's  letter  dated  Tullamore, 
January  4th,  1838,  p.  112. 

w  This  was  "in  the  city  Medi."  See 
Bishop  Forbes'  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish 
Saints,"  p.  288. 

98  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  n.  (m),  p.  152. 

99  The  parish  of  Croghan  is  described  on 
the  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for 
the  King's  County."     Sheets  3,   10.     On 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


the  King's  County  and  Westmeath.  No  church  at  present  marks  this  site, 
but  a  frequented  graveyard  is  to  be  seen  on  the  spot  indicated.  The  place 
itself  is  elevated  and  greatly  exposed  to  the  action  of  passing  winds.  It  would 
seem,  according  to  another  opinion,  that  our  saint  received  her  religious  habit 
at  Huisneach  Midi,100  usually  supposed  to  have  been  identical  with  Usny 
Hill.101  According  to  Tirechan,  Maccaille  was  then  at  this  place,102  which, 
although  not  his  usual  residence,  was  probably  comprised  within  his  ecclesi 
astical  district.103  Likely,  also,  the  church  had  been  built  of  wood,  and  had 
not  suffered  from  fire,  down  to  the  time,  in  which  Cogitosus  wrote.  This 
accident  occurred,  however,  before  the  Latin  Hexameter  or  Sixth  Life  of 
our  saint  had  been  composed.  Allusion  is  there  made  to  the  miraculous 
circumstance  regarding  that  portion  of  the  altar,  touched  by  the  holy  virgin, 
having  escaped  conflagration. 

Although  certain  writers  have  assumed,  that  St.  Brigid  made  her  religious 
profession  so  early  as  her  fourteenth  year  ;ia*  yet,  nothing  has  appeared  in 
evidence  to  sustain  this  opinion.  It  is  true,  before  the  passing  of  a  decree, 
at  the  Council  of  Trent,  that  age  was  deemed  sufficient  for  receiving  the 
veil.  Hector  Boece105  seems  therefore  to  have  inferred  St.  Brigid's  earliest 
acceptance  of  her  privilege.106  On  this  subject,  a  more  reliable  authority 
declares,  St.  Brigid  must  have  been  at  least  sixteen  years  old,  at  the  period  of 
her  consecration,  as  in  those  times,  that  was  the  earliest  age,  compatible  with 
the  performance  of  such  a  ceremony.  It  is  probable,  she  had  attained  this  latter 
age,  at  least,  as  her  parents  considered  her  marriageable,  at  a  time  she  ex 
pressed  her  preference  for  the  state  of  virginity.  In  the  early  ages,  conse 
crated  virgins  lived  with  their  friends,  and  discharged  the  ordinary  household 
duties.  Afterwards,  it  was  found  more  desirable  they  should  live  in  com 
munity.  Strict  enclosure  was  of  a  later  date,  and  it  was  gradually  introduced 
among  the  religious  houses.  It  is  needless  to  state,  how  much  it  has  con 
duced  to  promote  sanctity  in  such  holy  institutions. :o? 

Maccaille  is  said  to  have  clothed  her  with  a  white  cloak108  and  to  have 
placed  a  white  garment  or  veil  over  her  head.  Relating  like  circumstances, 
Tirechan  says,  that  she  received  the  pallium  from  Mac-Cuille  or  Maccaille. 
It  is  worth  while  remarking,  the  dress  of  ancient  nuns  was  white  ;  nor  were 
there  any  distinct  orders  of  religious  females  in  Ireland,  until  some  centuries 
after  St.  Brigid's  time,  as  all  consecrated  women  followed  the  same  rule  she 
had  observed.  I09 

A  learned  Irish  ecclesiastical  historian110  will  not  have  it  inferred,  that 

the  latter  maybe  traced    the   curious  anti-       iii.,  and  n.  41,  pp.  386,  388. 

quities   adjacent   to    the   ruined   church    on  '"?  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brimd  "  by  an 

Croghan  Hill.  Irish  Priest>  chap>  ^  pp_         ^ 

°°  ln   *  rofessor  O'Looney's   Irish   Life,  '"s  The  white  garment  of  St.   Brigid  is 
ic  place  of  her  profession  is  said  to  have  mentioned  in  her  Third  Life.      See  Col- 
been  at  Tealach   Midi,  where  Bishop  Mel  gan's  "Trias  Thaumatunja."     Tertia  Vita 
was   then   living,    pp.    17,    18.      In    other  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  108,  p.  540. 
words,  this  place  may  be   rendered   Tulach  ^  Such  is  the        inion  of  Dr_  Lani 
Midi   or  the  Hill  of  Mcath.  who  adds  :  "  \Ve  find  nothing  about  cutting 
in  the  present  county  of  Westmeath.  of  hair,  which  was  not  practised  in  the  pro- 
-  According  to  Lssher.  fession  of  holy  virgins  as  early,  or,  at  least 
Hist      'CnfVr'i    T™lgt?S     ''Ecclesiastical  ^   generally,    as    the    regulation   for   their 
.01  y  of  Ireland,     vol.  i.,  chap,  vn.,  sec.  wearing  a  particular  habit."—"  Ecclesias- 
Vo4Pc  33?,'        c   -p     .  tical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii., 
the  Sir  ts  "V>  ?-.?a™g-Gould  s      Llves  of  s<*.  iii.,  n.  34,  P-    387.     He  quotes  Tille- 
nts,     vol.  n,  February  I     p.  17.  mont's  "  Memoires  pour  servir  a  1'Histoire 
ssher  and  other  writers  drew  similar  Ecclesiastique,"  tomus  x.,  pp.   84  to  302  : 
accounts  from  him.    _  and  Bingham's  "Ecclesiastical  Antiquities," 

L>r.    Lamgan's    "Ecclesiastical  book  vii.,  chap,  iv    sect   6 

History  oi  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  "°  Dr.  Lanigan. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


our  saint's  father  resided  in  the  ancient  province  of  Meath,  as  lie  is  con 
stantly  called  a  Leinsterman.  According  to  the  same  writer,  he  seems  to 
have  lived  not  far  from  Kildare,  where  J 'rigid  afterwards  founded  her  nun 
nery.111  The  reason  why  she  had  recourse  to  Maccaille  was  probably,  be 
cause  he  was  then  the  nearest  bishop  to  her  father's  house  ;  and,  as  the  con 
secration  of  virgins  was  reserved  to  the  episcopal  order,  a  priest  could  not 
receive  her  profession.  It  is  a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty  to  determine 
the  place,  where  the  holy  virgin  first  established  her  religious  house.  Accord 
ing  to  a  local  tradition,  we  find  it  stated,  St.  Urigid  and  her  sister  lived  in 
Faughard  Church."-'  This,  however,  is  unreliable.  Another  opinion  has 
been  offered,1'3  that  our  saint  founded  her  first  religious  establishment  in 
that  part  of  the  King's  County,  which  formerly  belonged  to  the  ancient  pro 
vince  of  Meath,  as  may  be  conjectured  from  its  having  been  not  far  from 
Usneach  or  Usny  hill,11*  where  Urigid  received  her  veil.  The  place  is 
spoken  of,  as  being  surrounded  by  the  towns  of  Meath. "5  Usny  hill"6  is 
not  far  distant  from  the  present  King's  County.1'7  There  Maccaille  seems 
to  have  usually  resided.  In  Fearcall,  formerly  a  part  of  Meath,  now  the 
baronies  of  liallycowen  and  l!allyboy,IlS  in  the  King's  County,  there  was 
a  place  called  Rath-brighide,  i.e.  lirigidstown."  '  Dr.  Lanigan  supposes,  St. 
Lrigid's  dwelling  was  either  about  that  district,  or  in  an  adjoining  one  of 


111  "  In  the  Fourth  Life  (L.  2  c.  3)  it  is  said 
that  after  an  ab-eiu'e  of  sonic  duration,  she 
returned  to  her  own  country,  that  is,  to  the 
district  where  her  relatives  roided,  and  that 
in  said  tract  a  place  was  assigned  to  her  for 
erecting  a  monastery  fur  holy  virgins,  after 
wards  called  Kill-dara." — "  Lccle-.ia>tical 
History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  viii.,  g  iii.,  and 
»•  37.  ]'!'•. 3S5,  3SS- 

"-  Tradition  states,  that  it  is  likewise 
called  Cill  Willie,  or  "the  Church  of 
Mary."  See  "  l.outh  Letters,  containing 
Information  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of 
the  County,  collected  during  the  Progress 
of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1835,"  vol.  i., 
p.  287. 

11  ?  I!y  Dr.  Lanigan. 

114  It  lies  about  four  miles  north-west  from 
the  Castletown  station  of  the  .Midland  Rail 
way,  and  in  the  county  of  \Ve>tmeath.    The 
hill  i.s  a  long  swelling  green   eminence,  ly 
ing  east  and  we-t.      It  has  never    been  sub 
mitted  to  the  plough.      It  has   two  summits, 
and  the  eastern  one   is   occupied  by   an  an 
cient  cemetery.      A  broad    avenue    formerly- 
led  to  it  from  the  south,  and  the  lines  of  this 
are  still  traceable  on  the  green  sward.    With 
the  exception  of  the  Cat    Stone,    and    some 
smaller  earth-works,  on  the  lower  part  of  its 
eastern  slope,  no  other  structural  works  re 
main  on  the  hill.      See   "  Proceedings  of  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy,"  second  series,  vol.  i., 
No.  7.     A    paper    (xvii.)    read    by    Samuel 
Ferguson,  LL.l).,  Vice  President,  February 
26,     1872,     "On     Ancient    Cemeteries    at 
Rathcroghan  and    elsewhere    in    Ireland  (as 
affecting   the   question    of    the    Site    of  the 
Cemetery  at  Tallin),"  p.  1 18. 

115  See   C'olgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Urigida.',  cap.  xxi.,  p.  529. 

"6  Interesting  engravings,  representing  a 


ground  plan  of  Usneach  cemetery,  and  a 
sectional  part  of  its  upper  surface,  are  pre 
sented  by  I  )r.  Ferguson,  in  the  paper  to 
which  allusion  has  been  already  made.  The 
principal  cemetery  enclosure  is  an  irregular 
circle,  or  rather  a  square,  with  the  angles 
rounded  oil,  being  about  250  feet  in  dia 
meter.  Subsidiary  to  this,  there  is  on  the 
western  side  an  annexe  of  the  same  general 
outline.  This  is  about  180  feet  in  diameter. 
There  appears  to  have  been  a  five-fold  par 
tition  in  the  enclosures.  Lach  division  con 
tains  tniindi,  and  some  of  these  seem  to  have 
been  erected  un  the  intersection  of  demarka- 
tion  mounds.  All  have  been  opened.  In 
the  western  division,  the  mouth  of  a  cave 
has  been  exposed.  Other  holes  in  the  sur 
face  show  where  the  roofing  stones  have 
filled  up  passages.  These  mounds  and  tii- 
iniili  are  exhibited  on  the  ground  plans. 
See  pp.  1 19,  1 20. 

17  In  his  account  of  the  parish  of  Conra, 
I  )r.  O'I)onuvaii  gives  some  notices  of  Cnoc 
Uiynij;,  or  the  Hill  of  Usneach,  on  which 
the  pagan  monarch  Tuathal  Teachtmhar 
erected  a  longpkort  in  the  second  century. 
See  "Letters  containing  Information  re 
lative  to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County  of 
\Yestmeath,  collected  during  the  Progress  of 
the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837,"  vol.  i. 
Letter  of  John  O'Donovan,  dated  Bally- 
more,  Lough  Sewdy,  September  1 7th,  1837, 
pp.  117  to  125. 

IK  This  place  has  been  improperly  con 
founded  with  St.  Brigicl'sTown  in  "  The  Life 
of  St.  Urigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii., 

P-  34; 

119  This  conjectural  statement  of  Dr. 
Lanigan  has  been  unreservedly  adopted  as  a 
correct  one,  in  "  The  Life  of  St.  lirigid,"  by 
an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p.  34. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Westmcath.120  As  in  the  immediately  subsequent  events  of  St.  Brigid's 
career,  the  great  central  territory  of  Teathbha,  or  Teffia,121  is  frequently  men 
tioned,  it  seems  likely  enough,  her  first  religious  house  was  situated  either 
within  that  district,  or  at  least  in  a  not  very  remote  situation  from  it.  Per 
haps,  owing  to  the  recorded  intimacy  and  friendship  between  herself  and 
Bishop  Mel,  her  community,  at  first,  was  under  his  supervision  and  guardian- 


Old  Church   Ruins  at  Ardagh. 


ship,  and  it  may  have  been  at  Ardagh,  where  at  present  a  very  ancient 
ruined  church  is  shown.122  It  is  one  of  the  most  cyclopean  and  archaic 
type.I23  The  door-way  was  perfect,  but  remarkably  low.I24  Also,  it  must 
be  observed,  that  a  very  prevailing  popular  tradition  associates  St.  Brigid 
with  St.  Mel,  as  a  chief  patroness  of  the  Ardagh  diocese,125  and  a  holy 


1:0  He  adds,  that  wo  may  find  a  Tegh- 
brighide,  or  Brigid's  house,  in  Kinel-fiacha 
i.e.,  the  country  about  Kilbeggan.  See 
"  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  sec.  iii.,  and  n.  47,  pp.  386, 
389. 

121  This  territory,  called  Teffa,  in  Certani's 
Life  of  the  Saint,  lay  north  and  south  of 
the  Ethne  or  Inny  river.  The  former,  in  St. 
Patrick's  time,  included  the  greater  part  of 
the  present  County  Longford,  and  the  latter 
the  western  half  of  Westmeath  County.  See 
"  The  Topographical  Poems  of  John  O'Dub- 
hagain  and  Giolla  na  naoinh  O'lluidhrin." 
Edited  by  John  O'Donovan,  LL.IX,  p.  ix. 

•'-  The  greater  number  of  its  stones  arc 
eight  feet  long.  These  ruins  are  to  be  seen 
at  the  south-east  angle  of  a  modern  grave 


yard.  See  letter  of  John  O'Donovan,  dated 
Edgeworthstown,  May  i8th,  1837.  "Letters 
and  Extracts  containing  Information  relative 
to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County  of  Long 
ford,  collected  during  the  Progress  of  the 
Ordnance  Survey  in  1837,"  p.  39. 

123  This  has  been  sketched  by  George  De 
Noyer,  and  it  is  to  be  found  among  the  folio 
drawings  in  the  Royal  Irish  Academy's 
Library.  It  has  been  thence  transferred  to 
the  wood  and  engraved  by  Mr.  Gregor  Grey 
of  Dublin  for  this  work. 

z-4  In  1837.  The  church  itself  was  never 
very  large. 

J-'s  Such  information  the  writer  has  re 
ceived  from  Very  Rev.  Thomas  Canon 
Monaghan,  P.P.,  Loughduff,  in  the  Diocese 
of  Ardagh. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  65 

well126  dedicated  to  her  is  to  be  seen  near  the  town  of  Ardagh.1-1?  In  one 
of  our  saint's  lives,  \ve  are  told,  that  the  bishop,123  who  received  her  reli 
gious  profession,  prepared  a  suitable  place  for  her  monastic  habitation,12?  and 
presented  her  with  so  many  cows,  as  there  were  members  in  her  coramu- 
When  she  and  her  sisters  took  possession  of  their  dwelling  St.  Brigid 
applied  herself  anew  to  labours,  to  vigils,  to  fasting,  to  prayer  and  to  divine 
contemplation.  Thus,  she  endeavoured  to  advance  in  the  narrow  paths  of 
perfection,  on  which  she  had  already  entered.  Although  excelling  others,  in 
station  and  merits,  yet  would  she  manifest  her  humility,  by  claiming  to  be  an 
associate  merely  in  that  society  she  had  founded.  '  JJy  her  example  and 
encouragement,  she  induced  many  ladies  to  embrace  the  most  sublime 
practices  of  a  religious  profession.1-'1  The  bishop  and  people  of  the  district, 
m  which  she  lived,  felt  delighted  with  her  sojourn  in  that  place.  Even  they 
showed  themselves  more  desirous  oi  contributing  to  relieve  the  corporal 
wants  of  the  community  established,  than  these  religious  were  to  receive 
their  gifts.  If  any  superfluities  remained,  these  were  bounteously  bestowed 
on  the  poor,  by  the  holy  superioress,  and  according  to  the  measure  of  their 
necessities.1-- 

On  a  certain  day,  Maccaille  invited  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns  to  a  banquet. 
But,  when  the  table  had  been  laid,  and  the  viands  placed  thereon,  the  holy 
virgin  entreated  that  bishop  to  refresh  the  minds  of  his  guests  with  spiritual, 
before  they  should  partake  of  corporal,  food.  To  this  request  he  willingly 
assented,  and  exercised  his  eloquence,  by  taking  as  the  subject  of  his  dis 
course  our  Divine  Lord's  exhortation  from  the  mount.  He  dwelt  on  the 
various  virtues  of  a  Christian,  and  especially  on  those  eight  beatitudes,  by 
which  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  secured.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  discourse, 
St.  Brigid  said  to  her  nuns  :  "  My  dearly-beloved  sisters  in  Christ,  we  are  in 
number  eight  virgins,  and  eight  virtues  are  proposed  to  us  for  your  obser 
vance  and  sanctincation.  Although,  whoever  has  one  virtue,  in  a  perfect 
degree,  must  necessarily  possess  many  other  religious  excellencies,  as  every 

:S  There  is  no  well  in  the  parish  of  Ar-  tions  eight,  although   a  few  lines   before   it 

dagh  dedicated  to  St.  Mel,  and  it  is  strange  states  that  St.  Brigid  set  out  fr.jin  her  father's 

that  St.  Brigid  is  the  patron.   Her  holy  well,  house  with  only  three  of  them.     It  seems 

called  Toberbride,  lies  in  the    tuwnlund  of  that  when  they  arrived  at  the  place  where 

Banghill.      See   John    O' Donovan's  letter,  the  bishop  was,  they  met  four  or  five  other 

Edgeworthstown,    May    jbtli,    1837.  postulants.  "—Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical 

Letters  and  Extracts  containing  Informa-  HUory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec. 

tion  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County  iii.,  n.  44,  pp.  388,  389. 

of  Longford,  collected  during  the   Progress  '  >'  "In   the   first  ages  of  Christianity  in 

of  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1837,"  pp.  38,  Ireland,  circumstances  did  not  warrant  the 

39-  strict  enclosure,  nay,  it  was  not  enforced  in 

I  his  well  and  the  old  church  are  noted  any  part  of  the  Church  ;  and   consequently 

on  the  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  Brigid  and  her  companions  lived   in   com- 

forI.t8llc'  Countv  of  Longford."     Sheet  19.  munity,  under  a  certain  rule,  without  being 

See  the   "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  bound  to  remain  within  the  precincts  of  their 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p.  35.  convent."— "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

_  '-'9  In  the  Third  Life,  it  is  stated,  that  the  Iri^h  Priest,  chap,  iii.,  p.  34. 
eight  virgins,  veiled  with  St.  Brigid,  and  '-See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
their  parents,  said  to  her,  "Do  not  leave  us,  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxx.,  p.  574. 
but  remain  with  us,  and  occupy  a  dwelling  In  the  Breviary  of  the  Canons  Regular  of 
in  this  place."  Then,  we  are  told,  Brigid  Lateran,  it  is  said,  so  many  virgins  were  in- 
remained  with  them.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  duced  to  imitate  St.  Brigid's  example  after 
Thaumaturga."  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  her  profession,  that  in  a  short  time  Ireland 
cap.  1 8,  p.  529.  was  filled  with  religious  houses  of  nuns, 

130  The  distinctive  number  of  holy  women,  while  the  house  in  which  our  saint  lived  was 

that  first  joined  St.  Brigid,  has  been  thus  the  principal  one  on  which  all  the  rest  were 

reconciled.       "The   Fifth    Life    (cap.    28,  dependent. 
seq.}  has  seven;  the  third  (cap.  18)  men- 

F 


66  LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


single  virtue  is  bound  up  and  connected  with  one  of  a  different  kind  ;  how 
ever,  let  each  of  you  select  whatever  particular  beatitude  you  may  desire 
for  your  special  devotion/''  This  injunction  pleased  ail  the  holy  sisterhood, 
and  they  asked  their  superioress  to  make  her  first  choice  of  a  virtue,  as  she 
held  a  first  position  among  them.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  St.  Brigid 
selected  Mercy  for  her  particular  practice.  However,  although  she  culti 
vated  this  beatitude,  because  she  considered  without  it,  that  all  other  virtues 
must  be  inefficacious  or  of  little  account ;  yet,  day  and  night  she  ceased  not 
the  performance  of  other  meritorious  actions,  connected  with  her  high 
vocation.  Her  religious  sisters  also  applied  themselves  witli  constancy  and 
fervour  to  their  sanctification,  through  that  virtue  of  their  special  choice  ; 
nor  did  they  relax  in  their  efforts,  until  rewards  promised  for  their  holy  am 
bition  were  received.  Having  thus  refreshed  their  souls  with  aliment  of  the 
Divine  word,  on  invitation  of  Bishop  Maccaille,  they  partook  of  those 
viands  placed  before  them.  Thenceforth,  it  was  the  constant  habit  of  St. 
Brigid,  during  the  whole  course  of  her  life,  never  to  take  corporal  refresh 
ment,  until  she  had  first  fortified  her  soul  with  God's  holy  word.1^3 

As  a  light  placed  in  a  candelabrum  cannot  be  hidden,  so  the  frequent 
recurrence  of  miracles  caused  Brigid's  fame  to  be  diffused,  through  all  parts 
of  Ireland.  Innumerable  holy  virgins  and  widows,  embracing  a  rule  of  life 
under  her  direction,  and  resolving  to  abandon  all  things  for  Christ's  sake, 
flocked  to  her  religious  fold.  Thus  God's  pious  servants  became  greatly 
multiplied.  Still  the  holy  abbess  was  particularly  solicitous  that  virtues  and 
merits  should  be  increased.  Although  moral  goodness  does  not  usually 
abound  to  a  very  exalted  degree,  except  in  large  religious  communities,  yet, 
virtue  consists  not  in  having  many  together  so  much  as  in  a  store  of  merit ; 
and  a  numerous  sodality  is  not  so  much  to  be  admired  as  a  fervent  one. 
Neither  should  it  be  a  desirable  object,  for  many  to  live  in  community,  un 
less  they  are  sanctified  by  the  practice  of  distinguished  virtues.  Through 
her  illustrious  example  and  precepts,  our  holy  abbess  urged  her  sisters  to 
advance  from  one  grade  of  perfection  to  another ;  with  argument,  by  en 
treaty  and  by  the  exercise  of  authority,  she  withdrew  those  who  were  frail 
from  their  errors  ;  while  she  manifested  the  liberality  of  her  disposition,  in  a 
care  for  the  poor.  She  even  deprived  her  monastery  of  means  necessary 
for  the  support  of  its  inmates,  with  a  view  of  releasing  from  want  many  suf 
fering  members  of  Jesus  Ghrist.13*  On  a  certain  day,  three  religious  pilgrims 
visited  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns.  These  were  regaled  with  bacon  and  other 
food.  Yet,  not  wishing  to  eat  the  three  different  portions  of  bacon  set 
before  them,  they  secreted  this  meat,  while  partaking  of  other  refreshments. 
On  the  succeeding  day,  St.  Brigid  saluted  them,  and  requested  them  to  see 
that  food  they  had  concealed.  Then  they  found,  that  their  three  portions  of 
flesh  meat  had  been  changed  into  so  many  loaves  of  bread.  At  another 
time,  two  of  those  men  were  about  to  engage  in  manual  labour,  while  the 
other,  and  the  youngest,  remained  in  the  house.  St.  Brigid  asked  this  latter 
man  Avhy  he  did  not  go  out  of  doors  to  work  with  his  companions.  The 
stranger  replied,  that  he  wanted  the  use  of  one  hand.  On  examination, 
Brigid  found  such  to  be  the  case.  Immediately  she  restored  it  to  a  condi 
tion,  which  enabled  him  to  engage  with  his  comrades  in  their  out-door  em 
ployment.  J35  The  Acts  of  this  holy  woman  abound  in  such  wonders. 


134  Ibid.,  cap.  xxxii.,   p.  574. 


Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santit; 


Vita  cli  S.  Brio-Ida  Ibcrnese/' 


Libro  Terzo,  pp.  170  to  176. 

135  See    Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga. ' 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidaj,  cap.  xix.,  xx.,  p. 


LII-E  OF  57.  BRIG  ID.  67 


CHAPTER     IV. 

REMARKABLE   MANIFESTATIONS   OF   PROVIDENCE   IX    ST.    BRIGTD's   REGARD— SHE  CURES 
MANY  DISEASED  AND  AFFLICTED  l'KRS(  j.VS—  HKK   HofNTIES  AM)    HOSPITALITY  — SHE 

VISITS   ST.    II;AR — isisnop    MI:I.'S   REI.IGIOUS    INTIMACY   \vrni   ST.    HKIGID— HER 

MIRACLES    IN    THEIiA    OK    Tl.l  FIA— .SAID   TO    HAVE    MET    ST.   PATRICK  AT  TAILTIN — 
HER    I'oWER    OVER    DEMONS. 

THF.  incidents  of  St.  Prigid's  life  are  differently  arranged  by  her  various 
biographers,  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  trace  them  out  in  succession, 
or  place  them  in  any  exact  chronological  order.1  I!y  different  writers  of  our 
Saints  Acts,  there  are  various  miracles  ascribed  to  her;  but,  as  the  periods 
and  places  in  \\h;ch  these  occurred  are  not  usually  particulari/ed,  it  may  be 
proper  to  comprise  within  circumscribed  limits  "the  recital  of  such  super 
natural  occurrences.  However,  some  of  the  miracles  attributed  are  of  such 
a  vague  and  an  improbable  nature,  that  their  relation  may  rather  tend  to 
obscure  than  to  illustrate  her  history,  and  further  to  crowd  it  with  unauthentic 
statements. 

In  her  Life,  as  written  by  Cogitosus,  we  are  told,  that  on  a  particular 
occasion,  when  St.  Bridget  was  visited  by  some  l!i>hops,  who  were  her  guests, 
she  found  herself  at  a  loss  to  provide  in  a  certain  respect,  (or  their  entertain 
ment.  Having  only  one  cow  to  supply  their  wants,  contrary  to  her  usual 
custom,  she  was  obliged  to  milk  this  animal,  three  different  times  during  the 
same  day.*  She  found,  notwithstanding,  as  great  a  quantity  of  milk  had 
been  furnished  by  this  animal,  as  the  three  best  of  cows  usually  produced.3 
Perhaps  then,  or  at  another  time,  a  band  of  thieves,  coming  from  a  certain 
province,  passed  over  a  river  and  stole  some  oxen,  belonging  to  our  Saint. 
But,  on  their  return,  the  river  became  swollen  within  its  banks  to  such  a 
degree,  that  in  attempting  to  cross  it,  those  freebooters  were  drowned,  and 
their  bodies  were  swept  down  its  course  ;  while,  the  oxen,  escaping  to  its 
banks,  returned  to  the  herd  with  those  reins,  by  which  they  were  secured, 
hanging  to  their  horns. •» 

During  the  time  ot  harvest,  a  day  being  appointed  for  reapers  to  assemble, 
in  order  to  cut  down  some  corn,  which  was  ripe,  and  \\hichbelongedto 
the  Saint;  it  so  happened,  clouds  began  to  darken,  and  afterwards  these 
dissolved  in  torrents  of  rain.  Throughout  a  whole  district,  harvest  labours 
were  necessarily  suspended,  during  the  continuance  of  those  heavy  showers; 
still,  our  Saint's  labourers  exercised  their  vocation  a  whole  day,  from  the 
rising  to  the  setting  sun,  without  even  the  least  impediment.  Yet,  in  all  the 
neighbouring  districts,  rains  poured  down  without  cessation,  flooding  the 
whole  country  with  ponds  and  rivulets  of  water,  s 

CHAPTER  IV.— 'See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  -*  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga," 
bv2a"  .         Ilncst>  chaP-  lv->  P-  4*>.  Cogitosus  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xvii.    Also, 
is  narrative  seems    somewhat  incon-  "Vita  I'rima  S.  Brigidre,"  sec.  27,  pp.  516, 
Sistent  with  an    account    previously  given,  520.      This  circumstance  appears  to  he  re- 
she  received  a  cow  for  each  religious  lated  in  a  different  manner  by  Capgrave,   in 
sister  m  her  convent.       Vet,   her  bountiful  that  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  which  is  contained 
ition  and  her  necessities  might  have  in  the  "  Legenda  Sanctorum  Anglire  Scotise 
diminished  the  number  of  cattle  she  then  et  llibernia:,"  cap.  xiv. 
own|d.    (  s  When  celebrating  the  Virtues  and  Mira- 
Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigida:,"  cap.  cles  of  St.  Brigid   in  his   Irish   Hymn,   St. 
vi.,  p.  519.     Also,    "Vita  Cnunta  S.  Bri-  Brogan    Cloen  has  this  incident    recorded, 
xxvn.,    pp.    575,    576.     This  See    "  Prima    Vita    S.   Brigidie,"    sec.    15. 
miracle  is  also  given  in  the  "  Prima  Vita  S.  Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga,"    p.    510. 
JBngidae,    sec.(  16,  p.  516.    Colgan's  "Trias  Cogitosus'  or  "  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidre," 

cap.  v.,  p.  519.     "Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae," 


68  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


St.  Brigid  wrought  many  miracles,  in  favour  of  persons  afflicted  with 
leprosy  and  other  diseases.6  Those  were  relieved  from  their  various  infirmi 
ties.?  She  restored  to  sight,  by  her  prayers,  a  man  who  was  born  blind.8 
The  lame  and  infirm  were  likewise  cured,  through  intervention  of  the  holy 
virgin.?  An  instance  is  recorded  regarding  a  woman,  with  her  daughter — 
only  twelve  years  of  age  and  born  dumb — coming  to  visit  our  Saint ;  the 
latter,  stooping  down  with  great  humility,  kissed  the  child,  who  exhibited  by 
her  looks  and  gesture  an  affectionate  reverence  of  manner,  which  the  virgin's 
virtues  so  well  merited.  Ignorant  concerning  that  defect  of  speech,  under 
which  the  child  laboured,  Brigid  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  addressed  some 
affectionate  and  pious  inquiries,  as  to  whether  she  designed  taking  the  veil 
or  embracing  another  mode  of  life.  Her  mother  declared,  the  daughter 
could  give  no  answer.  Brigid  replied,  she  should  not  relinquish  that  child's 
hand,  until  an  answer  had  been  given.  Being  asked  the  question  a  second 
time,  the  girl  said,  "  I  desire  to  do  only  what  you  wish  me."  And  from  that 
time  forward,  she  spoke  without  the  least  impediment.10  Afterwards,  she 
remained  in  a  state  of  celibacy,  to  the  very  hour  of  her  death.11  According 
to  other  accounts,  St.  Brigid  had  been  approached,  in  the  first  instance, 
through  the  medium  of  another  pious  female,  named  Darlugdacha — most 
probably  one  of  her  own  nuns,  and  her  immediate  successor  in  the  govern 
ment  of  her  institute  at  Kildare.12  The  mute  girl's  mother  had  secured  the 
good  offices  of  this  Darlugdacha,  or  Durlaghacha, — as  we  also  find  her 
called — on  behalf  of  the  afflicted  daughter.  The  restored  girl  afterwards 
remained  under  care  of  St.  Brigid.13 

Our  Saint  possessed  the  gift  of  multiplying  in  quantity  various  kinds  of 
food  and  drink,  which  she  either  touched  or  blessed.  Thus,  we  are  told, 
when  the  Paschal  or  Easter  day  was  near,  on  a  certain  time,  Brigid  wished 
to  prepare  a  banquet  for  all  the  Meathian  churches, ^  in  various  towns^  of 
that  province,  surrounding  her  own  establishment.  There  was  a  scarcity  of 
corn  prevailing  in  this  particular  district  at  the  time,  and  she  had  only  very 
limited  means  at  command  to  enable  her  to  effect  such  an  object.  The 
small  quantity  of  beer  she  possessed  was  contained  in  two  tubs,16  as  she  had 
no  other  vessels  to  hold  it ;  but,  this  beverage  was  divided  into  measures, 

cap.  c.,  p.  540.     "  QuartaVita  S.  Brigida:,"  ibid.     Also,  Camerarius,  p.  140. 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixvii.,  p.  560.     "  Quinta  Vita  9  See   Capgrave's    "Vita    S.    Brigidre," 

S.  Brigidre,"  cap.  xli.,  p.  577,  ibid.     Cap-  cap.  xviii. 

grave  also  states,  that  from  the  rising  to  the  I0  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  Vita  Prima 

setting  of  the  sun,  not  one  drop  of  rain  fell  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  22,  p.  516.     Cogitosus,   or 

on    St.    Brigid's  reapers.     See    "  Legenda  Secunda   Vita  S.    Brigidn:,   cap.  xviii.,   p. 

Sanctorum  Anglire, "  &c. ,  in  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  520,  ibid. 

cap.  xxiii.,  and  also  Messingham's   "Flori-  "See   Capgrave's    "Vita   S.    Brigidae," 

legium  Insulfc  Sanctorum."   This  account  is  cap.  xxv. 

contained,  likewise,  in  Petrus  de  Natalibus,  I2  In  such  case,  her  festival  occurs,  also, 

in  Camerarius,  in  the  "  Chronica  Generalis  on  the   1st  of  February.      Her  acts  may  be 

Mundi,"  and  in  many  of  St.  Brigid's  Offices.  seen  immediately  succeeding  those   of  St. 

6  See  the  Lections  of  her  ancient  Office,  Brigid. 

contained   in    the    Breviary   of    Aberdeen.  ^  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga," 

Bishop    Forbes'    "  Kalendars    of    Scottish  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  cxxvi.,  p.  541. 

Saints, "  p.  289 .  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  xci. ,  p.  562,  ibid. 

7  See,  likewise,  Officium  S.    Brigidae,    ii.  "4  This  seems  to  indicate  her  living,  with 
Nocturne,    Lect.    v.      De    Burgo's    Officia  her  religious,   in  the  province  or  diocese  of 
Propria  Sanctorum  Hibernian,"  p.  12.   Also,  Meath— most  likely  in  its  western  part. 

at   the   same  day,  Supplementum    Romani  I5  From   this   statement,    we    may  infer, 

Breviarii,  as  used  in  the  Irish  Church,  Noct.  how  populous  that  district  had  been. 

n .,  Lect.  vi.  ifi  |n  one  barrel,  according  to  Lections  of 

See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  St.  Brigid's  Office  in  the  Breviary  of  Aber- 

Pnma   Vita    ii     Brigidee,    sec.  21,   p.  516.  deen.     See  Bishop  Forbes'   "  Kalendars  of 

becunda  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xii.,  p.  520,  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  69 

and  distributed  among  eighteen  neighbouring  churches  or  monasteries.  It 
served  for  the  abundant  refreshment  of  those  in  attendance  there,  during 
Holy  Thursday,  Easier  Sunday,  and  the  week  following.1?  At  another  time, 
according  to  custom,  Bishop  Maccaille  paid  the  Saint  a  visit,  being  accom 
panied,  however,  with  an  unusual  retinue  of  clerics.  Brigid  joyfully  and 
hospitably  received  them.  Having  heard  the  word  of  God  proclaimed  by 
them,  she  prepared  to  minister  in  turn  for  the  corporal  refection  of  her 
guests.  She  placed  whatever  viands  she  could  procure  on  the  table ;  yet, 
with  the  exception  of  a  very  small  quantity  of  beer,  contained  in  a  vessel' 
she  had  no  other  kind  of  drink  than  water.13  However,  presuming  on  God's 
goodness,  she  made  a  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  beverage,  when  it  was 
miraculously  increased,  so  as  to  satisfy  more  than  the  wants  of  all  her  as 
sembled  guests.  And,  we  are  told,  that  several  vessels  were  filled,  with  the 
contents  of  this  particular  measure,  through  the  holy  virgin's  merits  ;  as 
formerly  the  Almighty  had  filled  the  widow's  cruise  of  oil,  through  'the 
Prophet  Elias.1?  ^  The  bishop  and  his  clerics  departed,  after  having  expe 
rienced  the  hospitality  of  their  pious  hostess,  and  even  more  gratified  because 
of  her  merits  and  the  miracle  she  wrought,  than  with  any  corporeal  enter 
tainment  she  afforded  them.-0 

It  happened,  that  a  scarcity  of  corn  prevailed  in  the  Liffey's  plains,  on  a 
certain  occasion,  and  St.  Brigid  was  requested  by  her  nuns  to  visit  St.  Ibar21 
—a  bishop  who  then  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Gesille22— to  ask  him  for  corn. 
Our  Saint  assented,  and  on  her  arrival,  she  was  joyfully  received  by  this 
holy  bishop.  However,  when  Brigid  and  her  companions  came,  he  had 
nothing  for  their  entertainment,  but  stale  bread  and  some  bacon.  Although 
this  visit  took  place  in  Lent,  both  saints  partook  of  such  fare  •  but,  two  "of 
the  nuns,  who  accompanied  our  Saint,  refused  to  eat  portions  of  bacon  set 
before  them.  A  miraculous  occurrence,  however,  reproved  their  recusancy. 
St.  Brigid  heard  of  it.  and  she  greatly  blamed  her  nuns  in  St.  Ibars  presence. 
She  ordered  them,  at  the  same  time,  to  go  out  of  doors,  and  to  commence  a 
penitential  fast.  Then  said  Brigid  :  "Let  us  fast  with  them,  and  pray  to 
God."  The  Almighty  heard  their  prayers,  and  soon  afterwards  a  second 
miracle  was  wrought.  Bread  was  set  before  them,  and  when  blest,  it  was 
partaken  of  by  the  saints.2-  Bishop  Ibar  asked  Brigid  the  cause  for  this  her 


7  Sec   Colgans    "Trias   Thaumaturga,"  lS  This   account   is   also   briefly  given  in 

Vita   lertia  S.   Brigidse,  cap.  xxi.,  p.  529.  Professor  O'Looncy's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Bri- 

Lt  is  said,    that  the  quantity  supplied    "ad  gid,  pp.  19,  20. 

clausulam  Paschrv.       This  seems   to  mean,  "•>  iii.  Kings  xvii.  17. 

to  the  following  Sunday,  or  "Dominica  in  -'See    Cnl-an's    "Trias    Thaumaturga," 

Albis,      which   closes    the    Faster   Octave.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidffi,  cap.  xxxvi.,  p.  575. 

Ibid,  n.  15,  p.  543.    During  the  same  Faster,  -'  For  further  particulars,  on  this  subject, 

is  stated,  that  a  certain  leper   came   to  Colgan  refers  to  the  Life  of  St.  Ibar,  which 

her,  and  demanded  the  gift  of  a  cow.     But,  he  intended  to  have  published,  at  the  27rd 

not   being  able   to  afford  him  this  present,  of  April. 

Brigid  asked,  if  :;.o  should  pray  to  God,  "This    "Campus  Gcsilli,"   called  Mag- 

it  he  might  be  healed  from  leprosy;  when  "esillt,  in  Irish,  was  situated  in  the  district  of 

the  leper  replied,  that  he  would  esteem  such  Hi  Falgi  or  Offaly,  not  far  from  the  Liffy's 

favour  as  the   greatest   of   all   gifts.     The  plains.     It  was  connected  with  a  tragic  and 

saint  then  blessed  some  water,  with  which  unnatural  incident,  in  our  early  history ;  for 

she  sprinkled  the  leper's  body,  and  he  was  old  chronicles  state,  that  Heremon,  Kino-  of 

lately  cured  of  his  disease.      lie  gave  Ireland,  there  slew  his  brother  Heber,  when 

s  to  God  and  remained  with  St.  Brigid,  contending  about  the  respective  boundaries 

:  time  of  his  death.— Ibid,  cap.  xxv.,  of  their  provinces.     See  Miss  M.  F.  Cusack's 

p.  529.     I  his  seems  to  be  the  same  miracle,  "  Illustrated  History  of  Ireland,"  chap   v 

which  is  a  little  more  diffusely  and  differently  and  n.  7,  p.  78. 

related,  in  the  "Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidoe,"  ^  In  the  Third  Life  is  mentioned  a  very 

cap.  xxxiii.,  pp.  574,  575,  ibid.  wonderful  transformation  "in  duos  Eucheas 


?0  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Lenten  visit.  Then  she  told  him  her  desire  to  obtain  a  supply  of  corn. 
The  bishop  smiling  said  :  "  O  Brigid,  if  you  had  seen  and  known  the  quan 
tity  of  corn  in  our  possession,  you  should  find,  that  the  amount  of  our  gift  to 
you  must  be  small."  The  virgin  replied,  "  This  is  not  the  case,  at  present, 
for  you  have  twenty-four  waggon-loads  of  grain  in  your  barn."  Although  the 
bishop  had  only  a  very  small  quantity  at  first,  yet  on  enquiry,  he  found  the 
prediction  of  the  holy  abbess  verified.  He  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  then 
he  divided  the  heaps.  Ibar  retained  twelve  waggon-loads  for  his  o\vn  use, 
reserving  the  remaining  twelve  for  Brigid  and  her  sisterhood.2*  It  would 
seem,  that  this  visit  of  the  Abbess  had  been  returned  by  Bishop  Ibar,  for  in 
the  Sixth  Life  of  our  Saint  it  is  related,  how  he  then  celebrated  Mass  in  a 
solemn  manner  for  all  the  people23  who  were  there.26  In  the  Third  Life  of 
our  holy  Abbess  of  Kildare,  we  find  the  following  recorded  miracles.  One 
of  her  nuns  had  been  afflicted  with  a  severe  illness,  and  this  patient  asked 
for  a  little  milk.2?  But,  Brigid's  community  had  no  cow  to  afford  it ;  when, 
the  Saint  told  a  companion  to  fill  with  cold  water,  and  then_to  give  the  ves 
sel  to  the  sufferer.  Such  an  order  having  been  complied  with,  it  was  found 
replenished  with  milk,  and  warm  as  if  this  had  been  just  drawn  from  the 
cow.28  When  the  sick  nun  tasted  this  beverage,  she  recovered.  Two 
females,  belonging  to  her  own  family,  and  who  were  paralysed,  lived  near  St. 
Brigid.  These  asked  the  holy  abbess  to  visit  and  heal  them.  She  complied 
with  their  request.  When  she  arrived,  having  blessed  salt  and  water,  of 
which  those  women  partook,  both  were  soon  restored  to  health.  Afterwards, 
two  Britons,  who  were  blind,  had  been  conducted  by  their  servant,  a  leper, 
to  the  gate  of  that  church,  near  which  the  Saint  dwelt.  They  asked  her  to 
heal  them.  She  then  told  them  to  enter  the  refectory  and  to  eat,  while  she 
should  pray  for  their  salvation.  They  indignantly  cried  out,  "  You  heal  the 
sick  of  your  own  family,  but  you  neglect  strangers  and  attend  only  to  prayer." 


inpascha&in  natalitiis  Domini."     Put,  in  both  saints  partook  of  meat,  during  Lent, 

a  note    on    this   passage,    Colgan   remarks,  was  owing  to  a  prevailing  scarcity  of  other 

that  the  text   is  here  vitiated;  for,   in   the  prescribed  food,  and  owing  to  a  dispensation 

Book  of  the  Island,  "oblatas  panis"  is  read  from  usual  Lenten  observances.     The  nuns 

for    "duos    Lucheas,"    and    in    the    Fourth  of   St.   frigid,    rejecting    their    permission, 

Life,  lib.  ii.,   cap.  xxii.,    "  in   duos   panes  ;"  .seem  to  have  given  way  to  a  species  of  vain 

•while  in   both   these  Acts  are  wanting  the  glory,    preferring  to   obedience   the  practice 

words,  "in  pascha  &  in  natalitiis  Domini."  of    their   customary    Lenten    mortifications. 

The  author  of  the  Third  Life  would  seem  to  See  "  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,"  cap.  li.  lii., 

insinuate,   in  Colgan's  opinion,    that    those  p.  580,  ibid.     See,  also,  an  account   of   this 

miraculously  transmuted  portions  of  bread  miracle   in  the    "Vita   Sexta  S.  Brigidae," 

were  usually  exhibited  on  the   festivals  of  sec.  xlvii.,  p.  592>  ibid. 

Easter  and  of  the  Nativity,  for  a  commemo-  25  "Ibarus  ad  cellam  vir  sanctus  venerat 

ration.     And,  by  the  term  "  Eucheas  "  may  alma 

be  understood  the  Eucharistic  breads,  not  Dicere   missarum   populis   sollenrnia 

sacramentally  consecrated,   or  perhaps  only  •          cunctis. " 

blessed  bread,  or  resembling  the  Eucharistic  26  Immediately  after  the  lines  previously 

species.       However,     that    account    in   the  quoted,  Colgan  says,   that   certain   portions 

Fourth  Life,  as  given  in  the  text,   seems  to  of  the  Poem  seem  to  be  missing.     The  last 

controvert  his  opinion,  regarding  their  pre-  line  is  marked,  as  if  for  a  note,  which,  how- 

servation,  for  any  popular  exposition.  ever,  lias  been  omitted  in  the  proper  place. 

24  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  See   "Vita   Sexta  S.  Brigidae,"   sec.  lii.,  p. 

Tertia   Vita  S.  Brigida;,    cap.  liv.,  pp,  552,  593.     "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

553,    and  nn.  27,  28,    p.  543,   ibid.     Quarta  ^  In  the  Lections  in   St.  Brigid's  Office 

Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,    cap.   xxiii.,   xxiv.,  taken   from   the   Breviary  of  Aberdeen,   we 

P-  5S3>  ih'd-     The  foregoing  incidents  are  find  a  similar  statement  made  in  reference  to 

somewhat  differently  given  in  the  Fifth  Life,  this  remarkable  recovery.  See  Bishop  Forbes' 

where  we  are  told,  Ibar  had  not  more  than  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 

four  or  five  measures  of  corn  in  his  barn,  28  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  this 

when  Brigid  first  arrived.     The  reason,  why  account  is  given,  pp.  19,  20. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  £  RIG  ID.  7 1 


She  received  this  reproof  by  meekly  going  out  from  the  church,  and  taking 
blessed  water  to  them.  When  she  had  sprinkled  them  with  it,  the  leper  was 
cleansed  and  the  blind  men  saw.  All  three  praised  God.  and  returned 
thanks  for  such  benefits  as  lie  there  bestowed  on  them. 

A  woman  came  one  day  to  St.  Brigid.  That  visitor  drove  a  cow,  with  its 
calf,  which  had  been  intended  as  an  offering  for  the  abbess.  However,  the 
calf  strayed  away  into  a  very  thick  wood.  Finding  she  could  not  drive  the 
co\v  without  it,  the  woman  called  out  with  a  loud  voice,  that  Brigid  might 
assist  her.  Immediately,  the  co\v  went  gently  with  her  conductor,  and  direct 
to  the  virgin's  house.  Brigid  then  told  the  woman  to  feel  in  no  way  con 
cerned  about  the  calf,  which  should  soon  follow  in  the  traces  of  its  dam. 
Another  day,  when  the  Octave  ot  Easter  had  closed, • ->  lirigid  said  to  her 
nuns,  "  Hath  that  beer  reserved  for  our  Easter  solemnly  been  given  out,  for 
I  am  solicitous  regarding  Bishop  Mel,  and  the  guests  of  Christ?''  The  nuns 
rcpl;e,l,  that  God  would  send  them  a  sufficiency.  Then  they  brought  on  their 
shoulders  a  vessel  filled  with  water  to  the  Saint,  that  she  mi-lit  bless  it, 
according  to  her  usual  custom.  Supposing  it  to  be  beer,  their  abbess  said, 
"  A\  e  give  thanks  to  God,  who  hath  reserved  this  lor  our  bishop."  On  exa 
mination,  it  was  found,  that  water  had  been  changed  into  such  a  beverage, 
as  had  been  mentioned  by  the  Saint.-""-1  At  u  certain  time,  likewise,  she 
sufiered  irom  sore  eyes  ;  and  on  hearing  about  her  ailliction,  the  same  Bishop 
Mel  sent  a  message  she  should  visit  him.  so  that  both  might  seek  a  physician 
to  heal  her.  Bn^id  said,  although  not  desiring  to  visit  a  corporal  physician, 
yet  she  would  act  as  the  bishop  directed.  It  so  happened,  the  Saint  fell 
from  her  chariot,  into  the  ford  of  a  certain  river.'1  whilst  on  her  way  with 
the  bishop  to  si_ek  the  practitioner.  Her  head  struck  against  a  stone,  and  a 
great  quantity  ot  blood  began  to  How  irom  her  wound. ->J  After  such  an 
accident,  that  medical  professor  whom  they  sought,  met  them  on  their  way. 3-5 
Placing  his  hand  on  the  Saint's  head,  he  cried  out  :  '•  O  holy  virgin,  a  physi 
cian  infinitely  superior  to  me  hath  healed  thy  head,  and  always  seek  that 
physician,  who  is  able  to  expel  all  manner  of  disease  from  thec."  Bishop 
Mel  then  said  to  her  :  '•  1  shall  never  again  advise  you  to  seek  any  human 
physician."-54 

The  fame  of  Brigid's  holiness,  in  a  short  time,  caused  this  wonder-worker 
to  be  known  and  universally  admired  by  the  bishops,  clergy,  religious,  and 
people  of  Ireland.  1  ler  miracles  had  most  beneficial  effects  on  the  newly- 
convertcd  Christians,  while  they  caused  a  great  man}-  conversions  among 
the  Pagans.  St.  Mel  and  other  distinguished  prelates  held  with  her  frequent 
spiritual  conferences  and  took  her  counsel.-5  Alter  the  foregoing  occurrences, 
as  related  by  her  biographers,  Bishops  Mel  and  Melchu,  with  St.  Brigid,36 


39  This  account  occurs  in  Professor  O'Loo-  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidic,   cap.  xxvii.,  xxviii., 

ney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  19,  20.  p.  529.     See,  also,  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidce, 

*°  This    miraculous    occurrence    is    more  cap.  xlvii.,    xlviii.,    and  n.  12,   pp.  578,  579, 

minutely  detaik  ',    ;:i   the  Tilth  Life,  chap.  640.  /''/</.     In   (lie   latter  Life,    it   is  stated, 

xxxvj;  St.  lirigid  suffered  from  a  pain  in  her  head. 

31  This  is  briefly  stated  in  the  Lections  of  That  physician,  to  whom  Mel  sent  her,  was 
the  Breviary  of  Abenieen  for  St.  Braid's  Bishop  Lclieus,  Lchenus  or  Lchianus,  of 
Cilice.  See  Bishop  Forbes'  '•  Kalendars  of  whom  it  is  said,  he  was  skilled  in  the  know- 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289.  ledge  and  practice  of  various  diseases,  and 

5J  The  Third  Life  adds,   that  when  it  was  in  the  remedies  lor  their  eure. 
mixed  with  water,    two   mute  women   were  "See    "The   Lite   ol   St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

restored  to  the  use  of  speech.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,   pp.  39,  40. 

K  These  accounts  are  also  given  in  Pro-  3°  From   the  poetical   description    in    our 

fessor  O'Looney's  Irish    Life   oi    St.  Brigid,  Saint's  Sixth  Liie,  it  would  seem,    that   this 

pp.    19  to  22.  journey  had  been  undertaken  in  the  middle  of 

34  bee    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga, "  the    Summer   season,    and   with   a  view  of 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


proceeded  towards  the  plain  of  Theba,3?  or  Teffia,  where  the  aforesaid  prelate, 
Mel,  had  a  large  monastery.38  During  this  journey,  the  favoured  virgin  wrought 
many  miracles.3?  The  ancient  principality  of  Anghaile40  seems  to  have  been 
their  point  of  destination.  While  the  Virgin  and  her  companions  dwelt 
there,  the  King  of  Theba4-1  gave  a  banquet,  at  some  distance  from  their 
dwelling.  An  awkward  servant,  on  approaching  the  royal  table  to  remove 
a  precious  vessel  of  priceless  material  and  workmanship,-*2  chanced  to  let  it 
fall,  when  it  was  immediately  broken  in  pieces. ^  Full  of  anger,  this  king 
arbitarily  ordered  him  to  be  bound  and  put  to  death.  But,  on  hearing  about 
such  a  cruel  and  an  unjust  sentence,  Bishop  Mel  sought  the  king  to  intercede 
for  that  captive.  The  chief,  however,  would  not  grant  his  petition.  Then 
Mel  gathered  up  the  fragments  of  the  broken  vessel,  and  brought  them  to 
St.  Brigid.  He  asked  her  to  repair  it,  and  she  effected  this  task.44  The 
captive  was  subsequently  liberated  ;  while  the  fame  of  such  a  miracle  diffused 
itself  throughout  that  part  of  the  country. 45 

Near  this  place,  St.  Brigid  was  asked  to  visit  another  pious  virgin, 46  called 
Briga,47and  at  the  house  of  this  latter.  Her  house  was  at  a  place  called  Kilbrige.48 
Our  saint  accepted  such  an  invitation  at  the  time,  as  she  had  often  done  on  similar 
occasions.  Arriving  at  the  house,  she  was  received  with  great  joy  and  honour. 
According  to  the  usual  custom  of  treating  guests,  her  feet  were  washed ;  and, 
after  the  water  had  been  removed,  it  cured  another  nun,  whose  feet  were 


assisting  at  a  council  held  by  St.  Patrick. 
At  this  Synod,  many  prelates  were  present, 
from  remote  places.  Regarding  those  bis 
hops  and  our  Saint,  it  is  added  : — 

"  Cum  quibus  ilia  snis  pen-exit sanctapuellis; 
Tempore  quo  rutilus  torrenlia  sol  gemino- 

rum 

Sidera  perlustrat  ;  ardent  confinia  Cancri, 
Fit  calor  in  terris,  fervet  sol  igneus  astris." 

37  Colgan  says  of  Thebe  or  Theba,  that  it 
was  a  plain  known  as  Teffia  or  Teffa,  other 
wise  called  Anghaile,  in  the  county  of  Long 
ford.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga, "  Vita 
Tcrtia  S.  Brigidre,  n.  16,  p.  543." 

3s  This  monastery  was  Ardagh,  which 
afterwards  grew  into  an  Episcopal  See. — 
Ibid,  n.  17. 

39  In  favour  of  the  blind,  lame   and  af 
flicted.     We  are  told,  also,  that  during  the 
progress  of  herself  and  of  her  companions, 

"  rectis  properando  gressibus  ibant 
Fluminis  ad  ripam  cujusdam  nomine  Banns." 

It  seems  more  probable,  however,  that  Baruze 
should  be  the  reading,  as  probably  the  River 
Barrow  is  meant. 

40  The  Muintir-Fearghaill  or  family  of  the 
O'Ferralls   were   its    chief  lords   for   many 
centuries,  although  in  point  of  genealogy, 
the  O'Quinns  of  the  same  race  were  their 
seniors.     They  had  sometimes  sovereignty 
over  that  sub-section  of  Fergus's  race,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Shannon.     Still,  they 
never  ruled  over  the  whole  race  of  Fergus, 
who  had  large  territories  in  Connaught,   as 
likewise    in    Thomond    and    Kerry.       See 
"The    Topographical     Poems     of     John 


O'Dubhagain  and  Giolla  na  Naomh  O'Hu- 
idhrin."  Edited  by  Dr.  O'Donovan,  n. 
277,  p.  xxxviii. 

41  The  King  of  Longford,  he  is  rather  in 
exactly  called  in  the   "Life  of  St.  Brigid," 
by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  41. 

42  The  writer  of  her  Third  Life  says,  this 
vessel    among    our    ancestors    was    called 
"  Septiformis  Calyx."    It  might  be  a  curious 
subject  for  enquiry,    to  ascertain  the   exact 
form  and   material   of  this   cup   or  chalice. 
Have  we  amongst  our  ancient  vessels  any  of 
a    peculiar   shape,    to  which   this    and    the 
following   description   might   apply?     The 
many-sided  mether,  or  drinking  cup  of  the 
ancient  Irish,    may  have   been   one   of  its 
class.     It  is  said  to  have  been  "  a  richly 
ornamented  vessel  "  in  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  21,  22. 

43  From  this  account,  we  may  infer,  that 
the   material   was   either  glass   or  pottery- 
ware. 

44  This   account   is   contained,    but   in  a 
brief  way,  in  the  Lections  of  the  Breviary  of 
Aberdeen.     See   Bishop  Forbes'    "  Kalen- 
dars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 

45  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga," 
Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigida),  cap.  xxix.,  pp.  529, 
530.     Sexta  Vita  S.    Brigidse,  sees,  xxvi., 
xxvii.,  pp.  587,  588. 

46  She  is  called  Brigid  the  daughter  of 
Conaille  [Congal]  in  Professor  O'Looney's 
Irish  Life  of  the  Saint,  pp.  21,  22. 

47  This  Briga  or  Brigh  is  supposed  to  have 
been  venerated  at  the  2ist  of  January,  or 
again  her  feast  may  be  found  at  the  9th  of 
March. 

48  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  42. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  73 

crippled.^  One  day  a  woman  came  to  our  saint,  with  a  present  of  apples,*0 
while  Erigid  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Theba.  Before  that  woman  left  the  place, 
some  lepers  came  up  demanding  alms.  Brigid  told  the  woman  to  divide 
this  fruit  with  them.  Then  her  visitor  replied,  "  I  brought  these  apples,  not 
for  lepers,  but  for  yourself  and  for  your  nuns.''  Such  a  remark  displeased 
our  saint,  and  she  rebuked  that  woman  for  her  want  of  charity,  telling  her  at 
the  same  time,  her  trees  should  never  afterwards  bear  fruit.*1  On  returning 
to  her  house,  the  woman  found  not  a  single  apple  remaining  in  her  orchard ; 
although,  only  a  short  time  before,  her  trees  were  bending  with  fruit.  Thence 
forward,  her  garden  remained  barren,  according  to  St.  Brigid's  prediction.*' 

At  another  time,  St.  Brigid  journeyed  through  the  plain  of  Thebe  in  her 
chariot,  when,  with  many  cattle,  she  saw  a  man,  his  wife  and  whole  family, 
labouring  and  bearing  heavy  burthens.  These  greatly  wearied  them,  as  the 
heat  of  summer  was  then  excessive.  Compassionating  these  people,  our 
saint  gave  them  the  horses,  which  were  under  her  own  chariot,  to  assist 
their  efforts.  At  this  time,  with  her  nuns,  she  sat  down  on  the  way-side. 
Brigid  then  said  to  her  religious  daughters,  "  Dig  beneath  the  sod  which  is 
near,  that  a  well  of  water  may  be  produced,  for  some  persons  shall  come 
hither,  who  although  having  food,  shall  require  drink."  J  laving  obeyed  her 
orders,  and  dug  a  few  feet,  a  fountain  immediately  sprung  up  in  the  place. *3 
After  some  short  time,  with  a  great  number  of  persons  on  horse  and  foot, 
accompanying  him,  a  certain  chief  came  to  the  place.  Having  learned,  that 
St.  Brigid  had  given  away  her  horses,  he  presented  her  with  two  untrained 
ones.  These  became  as  tractable  under  her  management,  as  if  they  had 
been  accustomed  to  the  traces  of  her  chariot."*  Afterwards,  some  of  St. 
Patrick's  disciples  and  family  are  related  to  have  passed  the  same  way. 
These  said  to  Brigid  :  ';  We  have  laboured  on  our  journey,  having  food,  but 
no  drink.;'  The  sisters  of  our  saint  replied,  that  running  water  had  been 
prepared  for  them  to  drink,  and  that  the  abbess  had  predicted  their  arrival. 
Then  all  cat  and  drank  together,  while  the  fame  of  our  saint  was  extolled. 
Thanksgiving  was  likewise  returned  to  the  Almighty,  for  such  a  blessing. 

While  St.  Brigid  was  travelling,  with  a  great  crowd,  two  lepers  followed 
her,  and  according  to  her  usual  custom,  she  kindly  received  them.  How 
ever,  these  miserable  creatures  quarrelled  with  each  other,  and  proceeded  to 
blows.  Meantime,  the  arm  of  that  man,  who  struck  first,  became  curved,  so 
that  he  could  not  lift  it;  while,  the  right  hand  of  his  opponent,  which  had 
been  raised,  could  not  be  moved  again  to  its  natural  position.  The  hands 
of  these  lepers  remained  in  the  condition  described,  until  St.  Brigid  on  com 
ing  up  healed  them.  Then  they  repented."  At  another  time,  our  saint's 
chariot  was  brought  to  carry  a  sick  man,  who  was  at  the  point  of  death. 
About  even-tide,  he  was  conveyed  to  the  place,  where  our  saint  resided; 
and,  on  that  very  night,  his  recovery  set  in,  so  that  by  morning  he  was 
able  to  walk.  On  finding  this  to  be  the  case,  some  lepers  asked  for  her 


49  See,  Tertia  Vita  S.  Erigidrc,  cnp.  x\-\-.,  Vila  Tertia  S.  Brigida},  cap.  xxxi.,  p.  530. 

p.  530.     VitaQuintaS.  Brigid  a?,  cap.  xlv.,  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigida;,  sec.  xxx.,   p.   586, 

xlvi.,  p.  578.     Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidie,  sees.  ibid. 

xiv.,  xviii.,  pp.  584,  585.  55  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

30  This  anecdote  is  contained  in  Professor  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  45. 

O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  23,  54  The  foregoing  circumstances  are  related, 

24-  with  more  prolixity,  in  the  Sexta  Vita  S. 

*  This  anecdote  is  more  briefly  related  in  Brigida.',  sees,  xxxi.,  xxxii.,  xxxiv  ,  pp.  588, 

the  Lections  of  St.    Brigid's  Office  in  the  589.     Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 

Brevhry  of  Aberdeen.     See  Bishop  Forbes'  ^  The  same  account  is  given  in  Professor 

"  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289.  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  23, 

S2  See   Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga."  24. 


74  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


chariot.     This  vehicle,  with  her  horses,  the  virgin  is  said  to  have  bestowed  on 
them.56 

Being  invited,  St.  Brigid  went  to  a  certain  nunnery,  in  the  territory  of 
Theba,  to  celebrate  Easter.  The  pious  abbess5?  of  the  place,  on  Holy 
Thursday,58  asked  all  her  sisters,  who  would  wish  to  wash  the  feet  of  certain 
infirm  nuns.w  All  seeming  to  feel  repugnance  for  this  office,  St.  Brigid  de 
clared  her  willingness  to  assume  such  a  task  :  and  the  abbess  was  pleased 
with  a  compliance,  which  she  knew  to  have  been  inspired  by  heaven.  Four 
of  the  nuns  were  then  infirm  ;  one  was  a  paralytic,  another  had  been  subject 
to  epileptic  fits,  one  was  a  leper,  and  another  had  been  blind.60  Our  saint 
first  began  to  wash  the  paralytic,  who  said  to  her  :  "  O  holy  mother,  pray  to 
Christ  for  me,  that  I  may  be  healed.''  Brigid  prayed  for  her,  and  she  was 
instantly  restored  to  health.61  While  our  saint  remained  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  she  occupied  a  cell  for  some  days,  and  it  chanced,  also  that  a  boy 
who  had  been  mute  and  a  paralytic6-'  was  there,  although  St.  Brigid  was 
ignorant  about  his  infirmities.  Some  passengers  arrived,  who  asked  for 
food.6^  Our  saint  enquired  from  this  boy,  if  he  knew  where  the  cellar  key 
was  to  be  found.  He  immediately  spoke  and  said  "  I  do."  Brigid  replied, 
"Go,  and  bring  it  to  me/'6-!  The  paralytic,  hereupon,  arose  cured,  and  pre 
sented  the  keys,  Avhilst,  afterwards,  with  the  holy  virgin,  he  ministered  food 
to  the  guests,  after  the  Scottish  manner.65  When  returning  home,  this  boy's 
friends  were  greatly  astonished  on  finding  him  both  walking  and  speaking. 
The  boy  told  them  circumstantially  how  he  had  been  healed  ;  and  all  who 
heard  his  account  gave  thanks  to  God  and  praised  His  holy  servant.66  At  a 
time,  the  holy  bishops  Maol  and  Maolchu6?  came  to  St.  Brigid.  They 
asked,  if  she  would  accompany  them  on  a  visit  to  their  sanctified  patron, 
Patrick,  then  dwelling  in  the  plain  of  Bregh.63  Our  saint  replied,  that  she 
very  much  desired  to  do  so,  as  she  wished  to  obtain  his  blessing.  Then 
those  holy  bishops  set  out  on  their  journey,  with  Brigid  and  her  companions. 
A  certain  cleric,  who  had  a  large  family,  with  cattle  and  two  waggons,  asked 


r56  See,  also;  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Sexla  St.  Brigid,  pp.  23,  24. 

Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sees,  xxxviii.,    xxxix.,   p.  64  This  is  somewhat  differently  related  in 

the   Lessons   of   St.    Brigid's    Office    in   the 

She  had  probably  been  the   subject  of  Breviary  of  Aberdeen.     See  I'.ishop  Forbes' 
58  c«,  IV1  afllllate  house-  "Kalemlars  of  Scottish  Saints."  p.  289. 
_    See       Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an   Irish  6s  Colgan   has   appended  a    note,    to    the 
lr!^'  !'P-  43.  44-  corresponding   Latin  passage,   iu  which  he 
/y     p.  ac(jount,ls  varied   in  the  Lections  proceeds  to  show— a  question  not  so  much 
St.  bngid  s  Office  as  found   in   the    Bre-  debated  now  as  in  his  time— that  the   Irish 
yiaryot    Aberdeen.       See    Bishop    Forbes'  were  anciently  called  Scots,  as  St.  Brigid  is 
Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289.  remarked  to  have  dwelt  then,  in  the  country 
_        in  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  belong-  of  Theba,  near  Meath,  and  that  the  author 
>sor  O  Looney,  we  are   told  in-  of  her  Fourth  Life  must  have  lived  at  a  re 
ad,  that      there  were  four  diseased  per-  mote  period,  the  Irish  having  been  commonly 
5  in  the  house,  viz.,  a  man  in  a  decline,  called  Scots,  in  his  time.    See  "  Trias  Thau- 
a  maniac,  a  blind  man  and  a  leper,"  pp.  23,  maturga."     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidre,  n.  18, 

"v-ThJf   miracle    is    also  ^corded  in   the  -This   miracle    is    also    related,    in    the 

vita  Sexta  S    Bngidse,"  sec.  xix.,  p.  585.  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xlix.,  p.  579. 

bee     'Trias  Thaumaturga."     There,   how-  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

rer,  it  is  stated,  in  addition,  that  the  other  *  So   called    in    the  Fourth   Life   of  our 

three  afflicted  persons  were   healed  by  St.  saint.      In  the  Third  Life,  they  are  named 

ti  ^  i    ua  ,rr  Pra>'lnS  her  to  interpose    on  Mel  and  Melchu. 

their  behalf  ,  - •  i.     ,    ,  ,                 ,      •,      , 

62  p  ,  .•         ,.     .  "°  rrobably    i 'reagnmhagh.   a   transposed 

<;r   R        ,  »?  th'S  mcident'    "The  Life   of  form  of  the  name  .Magh- Breach,  a  famous 

dH,^r?-}f^criesvcallshim"a  i)iain  in  East  Mcath-  See  "The  T°P°- 

Uea3'  ai  d  (lumb  child.      See  chap,  iv.,  p.  44.  graphical  Poems  of  |ohn  O'Dubhajjain  and 

relnti    n  P^f           »,«>me what  differently  Giolla  na  naomh  O'Huidhrm."     Edited  by 

ssor  O'Looney  s  Irish  Life  of  John  O'Donovan,  LL.D.,  p.  xv.,  n.  63. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  75 


permission  to  accompany  the  saints,  that  he  might  minister  to  their  wants  on 
the  journey;  but,  the  bishops  would  not  consent,  lest  their  travelling  might 
be  impeded  by  the  number  of  beasts  and  the  amount  of  baggage.  Then,  St. 
Brigid  said  to  the  bishops  ;  "  Proceed  you  before  us,  I  shall  remain,  and 
assist  those  people." 

The  bishops  obeyed  her,  and  the  saint,  remaining  with  the  cleric's  family, 
asked  why  they  did  not  put  their  baggage  in  the  waggons.  She  was  informed 
that  two  infirm  persons,  a  paralytic  man,  and  a  blind  woman,  occupied  them. 
The  fellow-travellers  of  Brigid  refreshed  themselves  and  slept  for  the  night, 
while  she  fasted  and  kept  vigil.  On  the  following  morning,  this  spouse  of 
Christ  blessed  some  water.  C9  Touring  it  on  the  paralytic  and  on  the  blind 
woman,  both  were  restored;  one  to  the  use  of  his  limbs,  the  other  to  her 
eyesight.  Then,  according  to  our  saint's  orders,  their  baggage  was  placed 
in  the  waggons,  while  prosecuting  their  journey  and  giving  unfeigned  thanks 
to  God.  With  their  permission  and  blessing,  our  saint  and  her  companions 
parted  company,  in  order  to  hasten  progress. 

On  seeing  a  certain  rustic  greatly  concerned  regarding  his  cattle,  and 
being  near  the  house  in  which  our  saint  lived,  Brigid  told  her  nuns  to  enquire 
about  the  cause  of  his  grief ;  when  he  replied,  that  his  whole  family,  consist 
ing  of  twelve  persons,  lay  sick  at  home,  and  there  was  no  woman  found  to 
milk  his  cows.  Our  saint  told  her  nuns  to  perform  tin's  kindly  office. 
Having  complied  with  her  order,  the  religious  sisters  were  invited  by 
that  man  to  partake  of  some  refreshment.  Witli  this  request  they  com 
plied,  while  their  holy  abbess  fasted.  All  having  dined,  the  saint  of  God 
blessed  some  water,  with  which  she  sprinkled  the  house  and  its  sick  in 
mates.  The  holy  virgin's  presence  and  her  ministrations  restored  all  those 
infirm  persons  to  health.  Then  they  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  invoked  bless 
ings  on  his  glorious  servant.  Subsequently,  in  a  direct  course,  St.  Brigid  and  her 
companions"0  proceed  to  a  place  called  Tailten,?1  where  St.  Patrick,  with  an 
assembly  of  holy  bishops  and  saints,  held  a  council.?2  Brigid  was  received 
by  the  assembly  with  becoming  honour.73  Here  she  is  related  to  have  vin 
dicated  the  character  of  Bishop  Broil'4  in  a  miraculous  manner.?3  Tailten 
has  been  identified?6  with  the  modern  Telltown,??  a  parish^  in  the  barony  of 

^  Thus   the   circumstance   is   related,    in  St.  Patrick,  the  Apo.-,;  e  of   Ireland,  as  her 

her  Fourth  Life.      In  the  Third,  it    is  said,  father,  and  that,  in  turn,  lie  adopted   her  as 

our  saint  used  the  "morning  dew,"  as  tiui-  his  daughter,      it  is  al-o  said,  that   for   the 

terics  for  their  restoration.     '  first  time,  these  two  great   saints   saw  each 

7°  According    to     Professor     O'Looney's  other   there  ;  and    from   this  date    forward, 

Irish  Life  of   St.  Brigid,  one  of  these   was  common   consent   allowed    St.  I'.rigid   to  be 

Bishop  Mel,   pp.   25,   20.     Melchu    is    also  the  greatest  of  all  the  Irish  saints,  after  St. 

named  as  one  of  them  in  "The  Life  of  St.  Patrick. 

Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  when  alluding  to  ?4  See  his  acts  at  the  8th  of  June, 

this  narrative.     See  chap,    iv.,   pp.   46   to  73  See  the  Lections  of  St.  Brigid's  Office 

48.  in  the  Breviary  of  Aberdeen.    Bishop  Forbes' 

''  This  place  was  situated  in  the  northern  "  Kalcndars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 
part  of  Meath.      In  ancient  times,    it   was  ?'J  John  O' Donovan  has  given  an  account 

greatly  celebrated.      See  Colgan's    "Trias  of  ancient  Tailten— which  he  identifies  with 

Thaumaturga."      Vita  Quarta   S.   Brigklcc,  '!' ••'!' ->wn  —  in    letters,    dated    Keannanus, 

n.  19,  p.  564.  '.../  i2th,  July    1 3th,  July    I4th,    1836,   pp. 

7-  It  is  called  a  "  Convocation  of  the  men  6  to  16,  in   "Letters  containing   Informa- 

of  Erin  at   Tailtin,"   and    "the    Synod    of  lion  relative  to  the  Antiquities  of  the  County 

Erin,"  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  of  Mcath,  collected  during  the  Progress  of 

the   saint,  pp. -25,   26.      A   very  interesting  the  Ordnance  Survey  in  1836." 
description  of  Telltown,  identified  with  Tail-  "  A  townland  of  626  acres  so  called  con- 

tean,  is  given  in  Sir  William  Robert  Wilde's  tains  a  remarkable  eminence    called    UAch 

"Beauties  of  the  Boyne  and  its  Tributary  the  t)ubh    or   Black    Rath.      It    is    about    sixty 

Blackwater,"  chap,  vi.,  pp.  149  to  154.  perches   northward    from    the    Blackwater 

73  In  the  Fourth  Life  of  our  saint,  we  are  liiver. 
told,  on  this  occasion,   St.  Brigid  received  ?8  It  is  also  called  Killalton  Parish. 


76  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Upper  Kells,  county  of  Meath. ??  Yet,  another  opinion  has  been  advanced 
with  much  ability,80  that  the  remains  of  the  celebrated  Royal  Cemeteries  of 
Tailltin  should  be  sought  for  on  the  Lough  Crew  Hills,81  at  Oldcastle,  in  the 
same  county.82  Here  an  annual  meeting  of  the  people,  called  in  Irish 
Oenach.  "  a  fair,"  had  been  held  in  ancient  times,  on  "  the  fair-hilled  Taill- 
ten,"  which  seems  a  term  inapplicable  to  Telltown,  which  lies  in  a  low  situa 
tion,  and  which  is  singularly  destitute  of  hills.  It  is  probable,  St.  Patrick 
took  advantage  of  the  popular  gathering  there  to  hold  a  synod  or  to  give  a 
public  mission.  It  is  said,  the  fair  was  held  with  great  pomp,83  and  that  it 
was  celebrated  for  national  games,  which  commenced  on  the  ist  of  August 
each  year,  although  occasionally  interrupted  or  prevented,  owing  to 
civil  discords  or  to  other  causes.  When  the  day,  on  which  the  foregoing 
occurrence  took  place,  drew  to  a  close,  on  seeing  the  miracles  which 
our  saint  wrought,  a  certain  man  asked  her  to  visit,  with  her  virgins,  a 
house  lately  built,  and  which  he  wished  should  be  consecrated  by  her  pre 
sence.  She  went  according  to  his  request,  and  was  received  by  her  host,  in 
a  hospitable  and  respectful  manner.  When  food  had  been  placed  before  the 
nuns  for  their  refreshment,  Brigid  said  to  her  sisters,  with  a  prophetic  spirit ; 
"  The  Lord  hath  now  shown  me,  that  this  man  is  a  Gentile,  and  as  he  will 
not  be  baptized,  we  should  not  partake  of  his  meats."  One  of  her  nuns  re 
plied  :  "  You  speak  truth,  for  I  have  heard,  that  of  all  others,  he  hath  most 
resisted  St.  Patrick's  preaching  and  hath  refused  to  receive  baptism."  St. 
Brigid  then  told  her  host,  that  they  could  not  eat  with  him  until  he  had  been 
first  baptized.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  Lord  touched  this  man's  heart 
with  compunction  for  his  sins,  and  he  believed,  together  with  his  whole  family. 
Bishop  Bron,  St.  Patrick's  disciple,  who  accompanied  our  saint,  administered 
the  baptismal  rite.  On  being  informed  about  these  circumstances  the  follow 
ing  day,  St.  Patrick  told  the  holy  virgin,  that  henceforth  she  should  not 
journey,8*  without  having  a  priest  to  accompany  her.85  Then,  the  illustrious 
bishop  ordained  a  priest,  named  Natfroich,86  who  during  the  whole  course  of 


79  See  Lewis'  '^Topographical  Dictionary  The  same  writer  proposes  to  publish  a  very 

of  Ireland,    vol.  ii.,  p.  600.  valuable  contribution  to  our  ancient  history 

°  See  some  admirable  investigations,  re-  and   antiquities,    intituled,    "  Taillten    and 

latiye  to  this  matter,  which  were  presented  Brugh  :  in  the  County  of  Meath  :  being  an 

by  Eugene  Alfred  Conwell,  M.R.I.A.,  in  a  account  of  the  present  condition  of  two  of 

series  of  communications  to  the  Royal  Irish  the  Royal  Cemeteries  of  Ireland  in  Pagan 

Academy  on  the  23rd  of  May,  and  on   the  Times."     Illustrations,    from  correct  clraw- 

'li    °J"  ISovember>    l8645    as  also   on  the  ings,  are  designed  for  this  work. 

:  February,  1866,  and  on  the  I2th  of  ^  Here  "games  similar  to  the  Olympian 

February,  1872.     These  were  published  in  are  described  to  have  been  held  for  15  days 

Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  before,  and  15  days  after,  the  1st  of  August, 

vol.  ix.     l<irst  series,  pp.    355  ct  sey.,  and  and  the  time  appointed  for  this  grand  festival 

vol.  i     second  series,  pp.  72  el  sey.  was  also  that  commonly  chosen  for  giving 

1  he  pre-histonc  monuments  here  were  young  people  in  marriage."— Thomas  Crom- 

A  rStr>  TA°V          ty  Eugene  Alfred  Conwell,  well's  '  <  Excursions  through  Ireland,"  vol.  ii., 

M.K.i.A.,   on  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  June,  p.  125.     London,  1820,  8vo. 

Ib63      See      Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish  ^  See  "Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish 

Academy,    vol.  ix.,  p.  356.     "  Examination  Priest,"  chap,  iv.,  p.  48. 

of  the    Ancient    Sepulchral   Cairns  on  the  *>  In  the  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  belong- 

Loughcrew  Hills   County  of  Meath."  ing  to  Professor  O'Looncy,  the   foregoing 

Mr.  Conwell  has  issued  in  book  form,  occurrences  are  noticed.     We  are  informed, 

hmbvo    an  interesting  account  of  this  loca-  moreover,  that   St.    Patrick's  injunction   to 

Tomh  nfn1S1  mT          i'I  Dis;covcry  of  the  St-  Brigid  "  caused  Natfraech  to  take  Holy 

Tomb   of  OllAmh    proliU    (Ollav    fola),  Orders,"  pp.  25,  26. 

£lS«fm™S  M™ardl  3,nd  L™-M*ker  «6This   priest  was  afterwards  numbered 

T     b^n    T?^       T?  Thousand  Ycars  A5°>"  among  our  national  saints,  and  according  to 

££«?,',«£?£'          contoins  several  interest-  Marianus  O'Gorman  and  the  Martyrology  of 

strations,  pertinent  to  the  subject.  Donegal,  he  was  venerated  on  the  nth  of 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  77 

her  life  attended  St.  Brigid,  in  quality  of  guardian,  while  on  her  travels.8? 
Having  taken  leave  of  St.  Patrick,  the  holy  abbess  returned  to  her  nunnery. 
About  this  time,  also,  a  certain  man33  came  to  the  saint,  and  bore  his  mother, 
a.  paralytic,  on  his  shoulders.  When  he  had  arrived  in  our  saint's  presence, 
placing  his  mother  on  the  ground,  under  the  holy  virgin's  shadow,8;  no  sooner 
had  the  infirm  woman  been  set  in  this  position,  than  she  arose  and  cried 
out :  "  I  give  thanks  to  (]od,  because  the  moment  I  touched  your  shadow, 
O  saint,  I  was  healed,  and  felt  no  more  pain/'  Then  audible  exclamations 
of  praise  to  the  Almighty  issued  from  the  lips  of  all  present.^0 

After  some  interval  of  time,  a  certain  demoniac,  bound  with  strong  chains, 
was  about  being  brought  to  St.  Brigid  ;  but,  on  learning  to  whom  he  was 
being  conducted,  he  cast  himself  on  the  ground  and  persistently  declared, 
they  should  never  bring  him  to  her.  The  conductors  told  him,  that  he 
neither  knew  where  Brigid  was,  nor  the  purpose  they  had  in  view ;  still,  he 
replied,  lie  well  knew  their  object,  and  the  place  where  our  saint  dwelt, 
which  he  named.  Finding  they  could  not  move  him  from  the  spot  where 
he  lay,  his  guardians  were  of  opinion,  that  a  message  should  be  sent  to 
Brigid,  requesting  her  to  visit  him  there  in  Christ's  name.  The  holy  virgin 
assented  to  their  request;  and,  on  her  approach,  a  demon  lied  from  that 
man,  whilst  as  yet  she  was  at  some  distance.  This  was  a  marked  privilege 
our  saint  possessed,  for  she  caused  devils  to  fear  and  to  lly  her  approach, 
wheresoever  she  came.  On  the  instant,  this  man's  reason  returned,  and  he 
gave  thanks  to 


CHAPTER  V. 

AT  ST.  LASARA'S  CONVENT  ST.  I;RK;II>  WORKS  MIRACLES — HKR  EXCURSION  TO  MUN- 
STER  WITH  lilSIK)!'  KKP — THE  IloI.Y  A1U:ESS  VISITS  CONNAI'GHT — HER  LABOURS 
AM)  ATSTEKITIES  WHILE  THERE— THE  I'EOl'LE  OF  LEINSTER  REQUEST  HER  TO 
KETURN — SHE  COMPLIES,  AND  RE-CKOSSES  THE  SHANNON — SHE  RESOLVES  ON 

BUILDING    HER   GREAT    ESTABLISHMENT   AT    KILDARE. 

WHILE  some  legendary  writers  of  the  illustrious  saint's  acts  intersperse  them 
with  fantastic  recitals,  others  recount  the  daily  wonders  of  her  life,  and  the 
benefits  her  charitable  solicitude  everywhere  spread  around  in  providing, 
not  only  for  the  wants  of  the  clergy  and  religious  with  whom  she  associated, 
but  even  for  those  of  the  poor  and  humble.1  At  a  certain  time,  Brigid,  with 
her  companions,  was  entertained  by  a  St  Lasara  or  Lasrea,  at  the  church  of 
this  latter  virgin.  It  has  been  conjectured  she  was  the  daughter  of  Ferguss,2 


December.     An  Irish  Life  of  our  saint,  in  ?'  The  foregoing  miracles  are  copied,  with 

Colgans  possession,    mentions   him    in   the  little  variation,  from  the  Third  and   Fourth 

fourteenth  chapter.     See  "Trias  Thauma-  Lives  of  St.  Brigid.     See  Colgan's  "Trias 

turga.       Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  n.  20,  p.  Thaumaturga."     Vita   Tertia    S.    Brigidce, 

543-  cap.    xxxii.,    xxxiii.,   xxxiv.,   xxxv.,  xxxvi., 

t7  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval's  "  Ilistoire  xxxvii.,  xxxviii.,  xxxix.,  xl.,  xli.,  xlii.,  xliii., 

Legendaire  del'Irlande,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  87.  pp,  530,  531.     Vita  Quarta  S.  BrigidiB,  lib. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  from  Northern  L,  cap.  xxxiv.,  xxxv.,  xxxvi.,  xxxvii.,  xxxviii., 

Bregiain  Professor  O'Looney's  Manuscript  xxxix.,  xl.,  xli.,  xlii.,  xliii.,  xliv.,  xlv.,  pp. 

547,  548,  549.     In  many,  if  not  in  most,  of 

9  In  the  Irish  Life  of  St.   Brigid,   Pro-  these  chapters,  one  life  seems  to  be  almost 

lessor  O  Looney  renders  this  passage  "the  a  verbal  copy  or  transcript  of  the  other, 

shelter  of  Brigid,"  pp.  25,  26.  CHAP,  v.— '  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval's 

9°  See  "  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,"  section  "  Historic  Legendaire  de  1'Irlande,"  chap, 

xvi.,  p.  585,  ibid.t  for  an  account  of  the  fore-  viii.,  p.  82. 

g^ing  miracle.  =  The  Martyrologies  of  Marianus  Gorman, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


son  to  Fcthlemid,  son  to  King  Leogaire.s  This  identification,  however,  is 
not  well  ascertained.*  Her  place  is  called  Kill-Laisre,s  or  "  Laisre's 
Church  ;"6  although  it  is  difficult  to  identify  the  foundress,?  among  the  many 
recurring  and  similar  names  inscribed  on  our  calendars.8  While  resting  at  this 
retreat,  on  the  evening  of  a  particular  day,  accompanied  by  a  great  multitude, 
St.  Patrick,  it  is  said,  came  to  demand  hospitality.  Then,  the  nuns  of  St. 
Laisre's  church,?  being  concerned  about  the  poor  provision  made  in  that 
place  for  entertaining  such  a  number  of  persons,  manifested  their  inquietude 
to  St.  Brigid.  She  enquired,  what  store  they  possessed.  Being  told,  they 
had  only  twelve  loaves,  an  egg,  and  a  little  milk,10  which  were  prepared  for 
herself  and  her  sisters,  our  'holy  abbess  replied,  that  these  should  prove 
sufficient  for  a  great  number  of  persons,  through  God's  bounty.  She  then 
required  the  Sacred  Scriptures  to  be  read,  so  that  their  corporal  necessities 
might  presently  be  forgotten.  St.  Brigid  and  St.  Patrick  afterwards  partook 
of  some  food,  which  had  been  prepared.  The  quantity  of  provisions  greatly 
increased,  even  when  their  repast  concluded.  St.  Lasrea  then  offered  her 
place  to  God  and  to  St.  Brigid,  for  ever.11  This  account  seems  to  indicate, 
that  previously,  it  had  been  a  convent  and  not  subject  to  her  jurisdiction. 

Our  Divine  Redeemer  proclaimed,  "  Blessed  are  the  peace-makers,  for 
they  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God."12  While  holy  Brigid  remained  at 
the  nunnery  of  St.  Lasara,  a  certain  man,  whose  wife  bore  him  some  un 
accountable  aversion,  came  to  the  virgin.  He  entreated,  that  she  should 
employ  her  pious  offices  for  the  restoration  of  a  connubial  love,  which  ought 
to  exist  between  himself  and  his  companion.  Then,  Christ's  holy  spouse, 
blessing  some  water,  ordered  the  man  to  sprinkle  his  house  with  it,  in  God's 
name.^  This  order  he  obeyed.  During  the  absence  of  his  wife,  food  and 
drink,  with  his  bed,  were  aspersed  by  him.  When  she  returned  home,14  her 


Tallagh,  and  Cathal  Maguire  treat  concern 
ing  her  at  the  iSth  of  February,  and  at  the 
29th  of  March,  in  the  opinion  of  Colgan. 
See  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  n.  21,  p.  543. 

3  About    the    year    520,    his   great-grand 
daughter,     St.     Lasre,     nourished,     on    the 
borders  of  Meath  and   Leinster.     .She  was 
a  disciple  to  St.  Finnian  of  Clonard,  as  may 
be  seen  in  the  twenty-second  chapter  of  his 
life,  and  also  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  the 
Life  of  St.  Kieran  of  Clomnacnoise. 

4  The  Abbate    I).    Giacomo    Certain    as 
sumes  it  as  established,  in  his  work,  "La 
Santita    Prodigiosa.      Vita    di    S.    Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libra  Quarto,  p.  265.     For  the 
use  of  this  very  rare  work,  the  writer  is  in 
debted  to  its  learned  and  courteous  owner, 
Jasper  Robert  Joly,  LL.D.,  38  Rathmines, 
Dublin. 

5  In  an  Irish  life  of  our  saint,  at  chapter 
xxviii. 

6  In  Latin  "  Cella  S.  Lassarre." 

i  The  time  and  place  are  thought  by  Col 
gan  to  favour  such  identity. 

8  There  are  at  least  fifteen  or  sixteen  holy 
virgins,  called  Lassara,  Las-sar  or  Lasrea,  in 
our  Irish  msenologies.  Marianus  Gorman, 
the  Martyrologies  of  Tallagh,  of  Cathal  Ma- 
guire,  and  of  Donegal,  name  them  at  the 
dates  of  their  respective  festivals,  which  are 
enumerated  at  the  6th  of  January,  where  the 


first  of  these  occurs. 

9  There  are  many  churches  bearing  such  a 
name  in  Ireland.    One  of  these  was  in  Ulster, 
during  Colgan's  time.    It  was  a  parish  church 
of  Clogher  diocese,  and  situated  on  the  banks 
of  a  lake  called  Lochmacnen.     Allusion  has 
been  made  to  it,  in  the  notices  of  St.  Lassar 
of  Achadh-foda.     There  was  another  in  the 
diocese   of  Lismore,   in  Minister.     A  third 
was  in  Elphin  diocese,  in  the  territory  Oirecht 
Hymainnin  ;  while,  a  fourth  was  in  the  dio 
cese  of  Achonry,  and  within  the  territory  of 
Lugny  :  both  these  latter  being  in  the  pro 
vince  of  Connaught.  But,  from  circumstances 
of  this  relation  and  place,  none  of  the  afore 
mentioned  churches  seem  to  be  here  alluded 
to. 

10  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.   Brigid,    "a  sheep"  is  added  to  these 
resources,  pp .  25,  26. 

11  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.   Brigidre,   lib.   i.,  cap.  xlvi., 
p.  549.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida;,  cap.  xliv., 
p.  531.     Ibid. 

l-  St.  Matt,  v.,  9. 

13  In  his  usual  erudite  and  fanciful  manner, 
Abbate  D.   Giacomo  Certani  has  amplified 
his  narrative   of  this   incident.     See    "La 
Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita    di    S.    Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  269  to  272. 

14  This  was  at  Killassair,   according   to 


LTFE  OF  ST.  URIGID. 


79 


heart  filled  with  affection  towards  her  husband,  while  their  mutual  harmony 
and  love  continued  so  long  as  they  lived.1?  At  this  time,  also,  St.  Brigid 
was  visited  by  a  certain  virgin,  descended  from  the  race  of  Guais  or  Guas- 
sius.16  Their  district  was  in  Meuth,  where  they  were  known  as  the  Hi  Mac 
Huais.1?  This  virgin  sought  alms  from  every  house  in  the  kingdom. 
Brigid  said  to  her:  "  I  will  give  you  either  my  cloak,  or  a  heifer  lately  pre 
sented  to  me.18  The  religious  told  our  saint,  that  neither  of  these  gifts 
could  profit  her,  for  way-s  j  -robbers  might  deprive  her  of  them.  Brigid 
then  asked  her  visitor,  if  she  would  receive  a  girdle,  worn  by  herself,  and 
which  should  heal  several  kinds  of  diseases,  prevailing  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  provided  this  /one  were  immersed  in  water,  \he  name  of  Christ 
being  also  invoked.  The  virgin1:'  received  this  gift  from  our  saint  very 
thankfully.  Taking  the  girdle,  she  first  went  to  a  certain  boy,  who  was  sick, 
and  who  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  parents.  The  Almighty  was  pleased  to 
restore  him  to  health,  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  Brigidine  relic.20 
That  virgin  in  like  manner  was  enabled  to  heal  many,  who  were  sick,  so 
long  as  she  lived.-'  According  to  St.  Brigid's  prediction,  she  even  received 
several  presents  in  return  for  such  services.  With  the  gifts  thus  acquired, 
she  bought  lands,  giving  all  the  wealth  she  possessed  to  the  poor.  While 
living  a  chaste  and  holy  life,  she  became  a  distinguished  saint.-2  Her  name, 
however,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  recorded. 

Another  time,  St.  Brigid  went  into  the  district  of  Feara  Ross.33  Having 
been  requested  by  some  persons,  the  Abbess  visited  a  king,  living  in  the  plain 
ot  Breagh,2-*  that  she  might  obtain  a  certain  man's  liberation.  This  person 
had  been  held  as  a  prisoner  by  the  dynast.  Our  holy  virgin  promised  a 


Professor  O'Looney's  TrMi  Life  of  Si.  B:i-id. 
An  additional  incident  is  added  to  prove  the 
affection,  which  the  wife  evinced  lor  her 
husband,  pp.  27,  28. 

15  This  miraculous  renewal  of  affection  be* 
twecn  the  panics  is  related  in  the  sixth 
metrical  life  of  our  saint,  with  some  addi 
tional  particulars.  The  following  line  con 
cludes  this  narrative  : — 

"  Virgin!-;  o;>  meritum  Christus  firmavit 

arnorem." 

— Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Sexta 
Vita  S.  Brigid;v,  sec.  \1.,  p.  590. 

_'6Thus  found  in  the  '1  hird  aiv!  Fourth 
Lives  of  our  saint.  In  a  note  thereon,  (lost- 
fixed  to  the  Third  Life,  Colgan  writes  an 
emendation,  that  in  the  Irish  idiom  this 
family  should  he  named  the  Mac-Huais. 
This  tribe's  name  they  took  from  an  old  and 
respectable  stock,  descended  from  Colla 
Huasius,  who  is  numbered  among  the  Irish 
kings.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  n.  22, 
P-  543- 

17  The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  has  it 
"Ella  era  d'vna  Regione  della  .Media,  che 
allora  chiamausi  Nac-Hunis,  et  oggidi  vieii 
delta  Hi  Machunis."— "  La  Santha  1'rodi- 
giosa.     Vita  di   S.  Brigida  Ibernese,"  libro 
quarto,  p.  272. 

18  This  narrative   is   somewhat  differently 
presented    in  the   Lections   taken  from   the 
Breviary  of  Aberdeen.     See  Bishop  Forbes' 
"Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  289. 


'-'  I  iiis  person  is  said  to  have  been  in  great 
misery,  belore  St.  Brigid  be-towed  on  her 
the  gilt.  I'rofe-sor  O  Looney's  Irish  Life 
of  St.  lirigid,  pp.  27,  2S. 

-  This  same  miracle  seems  the  one  alluded 
to,  in  the  metrical  life  of  our  saint ;  but,  in 
this  life,  it  is  said,  that  a  poor  man  was  the 
recipient  of  St.  Brigid's  gin  lie. 

-'  It  is  stated,  in  the  Sixth  Life,  that  by 
means  of  this  girdle,  many  miracles,  in 
favour  of  the  sick  and  nllhcted,  had  been 
wrought,  throughout  the  districts  around 
Kildare.  '1  he>e  miracles  are  said  to  have 
been  continued,  after  it  had  been  brought  to 
the  recipient's  country.  See  Sexta  Vita  S. 
Brigida',  sec.  xxv.,  pp.  586,  587. 

-  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
VitaTertia  S.  Brigida?,  cap.  xlv.,  xlvi.,  and 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida;  lib.  i.,  cap.  xlvii., 
xlviii.,  pp.  531,  549. 

-'  \\  Inch  means  "the  men  of  Ross. "  Pro 
fessor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 
pp.  29,  30.  This  was  a  tribe  and  territory, 
comprising  the  country  around  Carrickma- 
cro.ss,  in  the  County  of  Monaghan,  and  a 
part  of  Louth  County.  See  "Three  Frag 
ments,  Copied  from  Ancient  Sources,  by 
Dubhaltach  Mac  Firbisigh,"  edited  with  a 
translation  and  notes,  by  John  O'Donovan 
LL.D.,  p.  72,  n.  (b.) 

-•*  Otherwise,  Breaghmhagh,  or  Bregia, 
the  great  plain  of  Meath,  in  which  Tara  is 
situated.  See  "  The  Irish  Version  of  the 
Historia  Britonum  of  Nennius,"  edited  with 


go  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 

ransom  to  him  for  that  captive.  But  the  king  would  not  consent  to  release 
his  prisoner.25  He  even  vowed,  this  man  should  be  put  to  death  on  the 
same  day ;  and  the  utmost  concession,  our  saint  could  obtain,  was  a  delay  of 
execution,  until  the  ensuing  night.  Accompanied  by  the  kindred  and  friends 
of  that  captive,  Brigid  went  at  night  to  the  place  where  he  was  confined ; 
and  while  her  companions  slept,  she  alone  remained  awake.  The  dynast's 
friends  said  to  him :  "  Unless,  O  king,  thy  captive  be  put  to  death,  during 
this  night,  no  person  can  deprive  him  of  life  on  to-morrow,  for  St.  Brigid 
will  liberate  him.  We  have  held  a  council  amongst  ourselves,  resolving  to 
take  him  away  by  violence,  and  to  kill  him,  independently  of  your  wishes. 
This  course,  we  trust,  will  serve  to  your  being  considered  inculpable."  But 
the  holy  virgin  was  miraculously  admonished,  regarding  this  plot.  During 
the  first  night-watch,  a  vision  appeared  to  the  chained  man.  He  saw  Brigid 
standing  near  him,  and  he  heard  her  pronounce  these  words  :  "  Behold,  evil 
men  are  intent  on  killing  thee  this  night,  but  when  thou  art  dragged  to 
death,  thou  shalt  often  call  on  me  by  name.  And  when  the  chain  shall  have 
been  removed  from  thy  neck,  that  they  may  proceed  to  murder  thee,  slip 
away  from  thy  executioners,  on  the  right  side,  and  thou  wilt  safely  escape 
from  them  to  your  friends."  After  this  announcement,  and  while  the  captive 
remained  awake,  his  executioners  came.  Removing  him  without  the  door 
of  the  king's  castle,  they  unbound  that  chain  which  confined  him.  We  are 
told,  this  man  immediately  escaped  from  their  hands,  and  without  molesta 
tion,  he  came  to  St.  Brigid ;  his  enemies,  meantime,  thinking  they  had  killed 
him  and  had  cut  off  his  head.  On  the  following  day,  however,  neither  his 
head  nor  body  could  be  seen,  and  this  man's  enemies  were  astonished  at  the 
result  of  their  search.  In  the  early  part  of  that  same  day,  Brigid  sent  a 
messenger  to  the  king,  with  a  true  account  concerning  the  transaction. 
Hearing  this,  the  dynast  repented  of  his  evil  intentions,  and  dismissed  all 
inimical  thoughts  towards  the  man,  on  account  of  that  veneration  he  enter 
tained  for  holy  Brigid.26 

One  of  the  holy  men,  who  had  been  distinguished  owing  to  his  virtues  in 
St.Brigid's  time,  was  Bishop  Ere  or  Ercus  of  Slane.2?  He  was  an  early 
convert  and  a  disciple  of  St.  Patrick.23  This  Bishop  Erc's  immediate  progeni 
tors  and  family  lived  in  Minister ;  although,  he  descended  from  Fergus 
Rogius,29  and  the  royal  line  of  Ulster  kings.s0  His  hermitage  was  at  Slane^1 


a  translation  and  notes  by  Dr.  James  Hen-  provinces  of  Ireland,  viz.,  in  Ulster,  Con- 
thorn    Todd   and  by  the   lion.    Algernon  naught,  and  Minister. 
Herbert,  p.  124,  n.  (q.)  so  From  this  line  descended  St.  Brendan 

25  The  account  is  more  fully  given  in  Ab-  of  Birr,    St.  Caiman,  St.  Leathan,  St.  Ere, 
bate   D.    Giacomo   Certani's    "La   Santita  bishop,  and  the  holy  sisters  Criada,  Derusia, 
Prodigiosa.    Vita  di   S.  Brigida  Ibernese,"  and  Sincha,  daughters  of  Ernan.    According 
libro  quinto,  pp.  354  to  359.  to  the  "  Sanctilogic  Genealogy,"  chap.  30, 

26  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga. "  these  were  near  relatives  o(  St.  Brendan. 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida;,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxix.,  In  this  old  record,  the  several  holy  persons 
p.  556.     Also,  Vita  Tcrtia  S.  Brigida;,  cap.  enumerated  are  derived  from  their  common 
Ixviii.,  p.  535.     Ibid,  progenitor,    Corb.      See    "Trias    Thauma- 

2?  His  festival  occurs  at  the  2nd  of  No-  turga. "     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida;,  nn.  42,  43, 

vember.  p.  544. 

28  In  addition  to  this,  D.  Giacomo  Certain  31  In  the  "  Diocese  of  Meath,  Ancient  and 
makes  him,  absurdly  enough,  a  Canon  Re-  Modem,"  vol.   i.,  chap,  xxxix.,  p.  297,  the 
gular  of  St.  Augustine.     See  "La  Santita  Rev.    Anthony  Cogan  writes  in  sympathy 
Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese, "  with  his  subject.    ' '  The  Rev.  Mervyn  Arch- 
libro  quinto,  p.  362.  dall,  Protestant  Rector  of  Slane,  the  distin- 

29  His  son   was   Corb,   surnamed   Ulom.  guished  author  of  the  JMonasticon  Hibernicum. 
Eight  sons  of  this  Ferguss,  with  their  pos-  and  of  the  Peerage  of  Ireland,  is  buried  in 
terity,  held  large  tracts  of  land,  in  different  the   Protestant  churchyard  of  Slane.     He 


LIFE  01'  ST.  J3R1GID. 


81 


on  the  banks  of  the  Boyne,  and  it  stood  in  a  most  charming  local \ty.v     Here 
too,  at  the  present  time,   may  be  seen  some  most  interesting  relics  of  our 


Franciscan  Abbey  Ruins,  at  Slanc. 
ancestors'  piety. x     Beside  that  romantically  situated  cell  of  the  holy  man, 


was  an  indefatigable  compiler,  and  to  his 
valuable  labours  we  are  all  indebted  for  much 
interesting  information.  Over  his  remains 
a  monument  has  been  erected,  with  the  fol 
lowing  inscription  : — 

'  We  shall  also  bear  the  image  of  the 
Heavenly.' 

Sacred  to  the  .Memory 

of 
MERVVN-  ARCIMIM.L,   A.M., 

Rector  (,f  tlij,  I'.n-ish, 
Who    uied    the    Oth    August, 

179'. 
Aged  oS  years." 

*-  A  very  interesting  history  and  descrip 
tion  of  Slane— M)  associate  1  with  early  and 
closing  scenes  of  the  amiable  and  learned 
writer's  life— will  be  found  in  the  Rev. 
Anthony  Cogan's  "  Diocese  ol  Meath,  An 
cient  and  Modern,"  vol.  i.,  chan.  ix.,  pp. 
58  to  64,  and  chap,  xxxix.,  pp.  283  to  297. 
The  lamented  deceased  was  a  native  of  Slane, 
where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1826.  He 
was  ordained  a  priest  A.D.  1850.  As  a 
lecturer  and  pulpit  orator,  he  was  highly 
distinguished.  By  the  admirable  work  he 
published  in  three  octavo  volumes,  an  in 
calculable  service  was  rendered  to  the  dio 
cese  of  Meath.  Attached  as  dean  to  the 


Diocesan    Seminary   of  Xavan,   he  won  all 
hearts  by  his  goodness  and  gentleness.      His 
collegiate  duties  were  faithiully  discharged  ; 
while  his  literary  labours  were  of  a  peculiarly 
arduous  nature,   and  must,    no  doubt,   have 
greatly  ten  led  to  undermine  his  constitution, 
in  his  preface  to  the  fir-t  volume  the  author 
says;   "I   went   troni  churchyard  to  church 
yard,   taking  the  dimensions  of  the  existing 
ruins,  deciphering  the  t  >mbs  of  priests,  tran- 
scnbing  the   inscriptions  on  the  pedestals  of 
ol  1   chalices  searching  the  registers,  gather 
ing  old  documents  an  I  letters  of  the  deceased 
pa.stors,    examining   the  lists   ol  subscribers 
catalogued    in   old    books,    visiting    the    old 
crosses  and  the  holy  wells,  and  taking  notes 
o!  every  surviving  memorial  of  the  faiih  and 
piety  ol    the   people,"  p.  viii.      In  declining 
health,    "  It   is  strange,"  he  often  observed 
to  his  friends,  "  I  believe  that  1  had  a  voca 
tion   to  wire  this  work,  and  I  should  not  be 
surprised  if  God  would  call  me  soon,  since  I 
have   finished    my  labours."     He  departed 
this   life   on   Saturday,  January  28th.  1872, 
at  Slane,   with  his  relatives  so  dearly  loved 
by  his  bedside,  at  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  46.     He  was  buried  on  the  following 
Monday,    in   the    Parish   Church    of   Slane, 
where   a  handsome   public   monument   has 
been  erected  to  commemorate  his  worth  and 
services. 

33  The  accompanying  engraving,  by  Mrs. 
0 


82  LIFE  OP  ST.  BRIGID. 


yet  visited  by  so  many  pilgrims  of  taste,  who  delight  to  wander  along  the  wind 
ing  waters  of  the  Boyne,  some  towering  and  extensive  abbey  ruins34  crown  a 
magnificent  height,  which  presents  a  vast  view  over  one  of  the  most  lovely 
landscapes  in  lreland.35  A  fine,  lofty,  and  nearly  perfect  abbey-tower 
dominates  over  the  deserted  and  ruinous  cloisters  beside  it.s6  A  much 
frequented  graveyard  surrounds  the  ruined  Franciscan  monastery,  that  had 
been  founded  here  A.D.  1512.37  The  pious  and  noble  Flemings'38  pile  of  build 
ings  was  soon  diverted  to  secular  purposes,  while  the  church  and  monastic 
portions  gradually  fell  into  decay,  It  is  said,  that  several  fragments  of  St. 
Erc's  ancient  hermitage  and  some  ornamental  details  were  taken  from  the 
older  ruin,  and  inserted  in  the  more  modern  erection. 

With  blessed  Krc,  the  great  St.  Brigid  was  specially  intimate  and  bound 
by  ties  of  holy  friendship.  This  appears  from  her  Acts,  and  it  is  supposed,^ 
that  about  the  year  484,  she  was  his  travelling  companion  to  his  native  pro 
vince/0  Such  tour  of  the  holy  abbess  possibly  preceded  one  she  made  to 
Connaught  ;41  although,  indeed,  this  matter  has  not  been  very  clearly  estab 
lished/2  St.  Brigid  entertained  a  great  inclination  to  see  certain  consecrated 
places  and  holy  persons  in  Minister ;  but,  according  to  another  account,  her 
visit  there  was  induced,  through  a  desire  to  accompany  St.  Ere  on  a  visit 
towards  that  country,  where  his  relatives  lived.-*3  One  day,  while  prosecuting 
their  journey,  St.  Brigid  said  to  the  bishop,  "  O  venerable  father,  point  out 
to  me  the  quarter  of  Minister,  in  which  your  family  resides."  When  the 
bishop  had  complied  with  her  request,  the  holy  virgin  exclaimed  in  continua 
tion,  "  At  present,  a  war  is  there  waging,  between  your  tribe  and  another 
clan."  The  bishop  replied  to  her :  "  O  holy  mother,  I  believe  what  thou 
hast  told  me  is  true,  for  when  I  last  left  them  to  see  you,  they  were  in  a 
state  of  discord."  Then  Brigid  cried  out,  "  O  Father,  your  people  are  now 
routed."  One  of  St.  Erc's  disciples,44  hereupon,  thoughtlessly  remarked  to 


Millard,  Dublin,  from  a  drawing  made  on  39  By  Dr.  Lanigan. 

the  spot,  represents  the  ruins  of  the  Fran-  4°  Whether  this  or  the  Connaught  journey 

ciscan  monastery  at  Slane.  took  place,  before  or  after  the  foundation  of 

34  At  Slane,  it  is  said,  Dagobert,  King  of  her   nunnery   at    Kildare,  seems   uncertain. 
Austrasia,   took  refuge,  when  he  was  ban-  Perhaps,  she  made  more  journeys  than  one 
ished  into  Ireland,  by  Grimoald,  Mayor  of  to  either  province,  for  she  appears  to  have 
the   Palace,  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  and  been  an  indefatigable  traveller  on  her  holy 
A.D.  653.  missions,  like  the  great  Apostle  St.  Patrick. 

35  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Augustine  have  4I  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His- 
been  placed  here  by  Harris,  and  St.  Patrick  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  via.,  sec.  x., 
is  called  the  founder  in  the  sixth  century.  n.  116,  p.  407. 

See  Harris' Ware,  vol.  ii.,  "  Antiquities  of  42  In    "The   Life  of  St.    Brigid,"  by  an 

Ireland,"  chap,   xxxviii.,  p.  264.     But,  Sir  Irish  Priest,  he  gives  precedence  to  the  holy 

James    Ware    more    sensibly    states,    that  woman's  Munster  visit,  in  the  order  of  nar- 

Christopher  Fleming,  Baron  of  Slane,  and  rative.       See   chap,    iv.,   v.,  pp.   50  to  56. 

his  wife,  Elizabeth  Stukely,  were  the  foun-  Some  of  her  Latin  Acts  seem  to  reverse  this 

ders.     In  the  charter  of  its  foundation,  it  is  arrangement.   Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani — 

stated,   to  have  been   "in  loco  Hermitorii  no    great    historical    authority,    however — 

S.    Erci."     See   "  De  Hibernia  et  Antiqui-  places   the    Connaught    journey    after    the 

tatibus  ejus,"  cap.  xxvi.,  pp.  167,  168.  Munster  one.     See  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 

36  A  very  inexact  engraving  of  this  ivy-  Vita  cli   S.    Brigida  Ibernese,"  libro  quinto, 
shrouded  object  is  presented  in  the  "Dublin  pp.  362  to  404.     See  also  p.  408,  et  seq. 
Penny  Journal,"  vol.  ii.,  No.  102,  p.  393.  43  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His- 

37  See  Archdall's    "  Monasticon   Hiberni-  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iv., 
cum,"  pp.  572,  573.  p.  389. 

38  See  some  account  of  them  in  Rev.  C.  44  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
P.    Median's    "  Rise   and   Fall  of  the  Irish  St.    Brigid   he  is   called   a  clerical  student, 
Franciscan  Monasteries  and  Memoirs  of  the  while  it  is  stated  St.  Brigid  and  Bishop  Ere 
Irish  Hierarchy  in  the  Seventeenth  Century,"  were  in  Leinster,  at  the  time  of  this  occur- 
chap,  iii.,  pp.  144  to  156.                                 '   rence,  pp.  41,  42. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  83 

the  holy  abbess,  "  How  are  you  able  to  see  the  fight  at  such  a  distance  ?" 
The  bishop  reproved  this  incredulity  for  his  not  recognising  the  Holy  Spirit's 
illuminating  gifts  conferred  on  a  virgin,  who  was  blessed  both  in  soul  and 
body.  Then  said  Ere  to  our  saint :  "  O  servant  of  God,  sign  our  eyes  that 
we  may  witness  those  things  thou  seest."  The  spouse  of  Christ  immediately 
complied  with  this  icquest,  so  that  they  clearly  observed  the  battle's  progress. 
Looking  on,  in  great  grief,  his  disciple  cried  out  to  Bishop  Ere  :  "Alas! 
also,  my  Lord,  at  this  moment,  my  eyes  behold  the  decapitation  of  two 
brothers.''  The  result  of  enquiry  established  the  reality  this  vision  detailed.^ 
Afterwards,  in  a  certain  place,  and  near  a  mountain,  the  holy  Bishop  Erc<6 
and  the  sanctified  virgin  Bngid  sat  down,  with  their  attendants.  These 
were  greatly  fatigued  after  their  journey,  and  they  experienced  great  hunger. 
A  youth  in  their  company  thereupon  remarked,  that  whoever  gave  them 
food  should  confer  a  great  charity  on  them.  St.  Brigid  then  said,  "  I  pre 
dict,  that  if  food  and  drink  be  required,  you  must  wait  awhile  in  expectation 
of  assistance  from  on  high;  because,  1  behold  a  house,  in  which  they  are 
to-day  preparing  alms  for  a  certain  church.  Within  an  hour  it  shall  come 
here,  and  even  now  it  is  put  up  for  us  in  packages."  While  our  saint  was 
speaking,  refreshment  carriers  arrived,  and  when  they  had  learned  the  illustrious 
Bngid  and  holy  Bishop  Ere,  with  their  disciples,  were  there,  those  bearers 
greatly  rejoiced  to  relieve  their  wants.  Alms  were  presented  to  the  famished 
travellers,  with  such  words  :  "  Receive  those  refreshments,  which  God  Him 
self  hath  intended  for  you,  as  your  wants  and  merits  should  be  taken  into 
consideration,  before  those  of  any  other  congregation.'''  Giving  God  thanks, 
our  travellers  partook  of  this  food  presented  ;  yet,  as  they  only  received 
edibles,  some  drink  was  required,  likewise,  to  allay  their  thirst.  Then 
Bngid  told  them  to  dig  the  earth  near  this  spot."?  On  obeying  her  order,  a. 
spring  of  clear  water  issued  from  the  ground.  Afterwards,  it  bore  the  name 
of  St.  Brigid  s  well,  and  it  might  be  seen  at  the  time  our  virgin's  Third  and 
Fourth  Lives  had  been  written. <8 

The  holy  travellers  subsequently  visited  Magh-Femyn,^  at  a  time  when 
a  great  Synod  of  Saints  was  there  assembled.50  They  were  obliged  to  re 
main  at  that  synod. 5'  The  holy  Bishop  Ere  gave  an  account  of  those 
miracles  wrought  by  our  saint,  while  he  was  assisting  at  this  council.^  The 
neighbouring  inhabitants,  hearing  that  Brigid  was  there,  brought  many 
infirm  persons  to  her,  that  she  might  heal  them.  Among  these  were  in 
cluded  some  lame,  leprous,  and  demented  persons."  Such  fortunate  patients 

45Abbatc  D.   Giacomo  Certani  has  a  la-  544. 

boured  account  of  the  foregoing  incidents.  sj\Vc  appear  to 'have  no  other  historical 

Sec    '   La   Santita   Prodigiosa.      Vita  di  S.  notices  regarding  this  synod  preserved.      It 

iJngida  Ibernese,  '  libro  quinto,  pp.  362  to  does  not  occur  in  the  List  of  Councils,  con 
tained  in  Sir  Harris  Nicolas'  "Chronology 

In  the  Third  L(fe  of  St.    Brigid,    the  of  History,"  pp.  21210269. 

'  Bronus  Episcopus  "  are  introduced  ^  See    "The  Life  of  St.    Brigid,"  by  an 

isly,  as  is  evident  Irom  the  context.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  iv.,  p.  51. 

See  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Samita  ^  Near  Fethart,   in  the  county  of  Tipper- 

Proctigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese,"  ary,  there  is  a  Kilbride  ;  but,  it  is  not  known 

libro  quinto,  pp.  368,  369.  to   have  been  erected  by  St.   Brigid,  or  to 

See    Colgans    "Tnas    Thaumaturga."  indicate   the   site   of  any   residence,  which 

Vita  Cjuarta   S.    BnguU-,   lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlii.,  had  ever  any  connexion  witli  her,  and  which 

>}i- »   PP.    550.557-     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  existed    in    the   neighbourhood.       See    Dr. 

BngKhe-,  cap.  Ixxi.,  pp.  535,  536.     Ibid.  Lanigan's   "  Ecclesiastical   History  of  Ire- 

Jtherwise,     Magh-Femhin,     or    "the  land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  iv.,  and  nn. 

plain  of  I-emhin,    winch  is  a  celebrated  and  51,  52,  pp.  389,  390. 

extensive  level  in  the  territory  ol  the  Decies  ^  see  •<  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

SeeColgan's  "  Trias  Thauma-  S.  Brigida  Ibernese,"  libro  quinto,  pp.  369 

turga."    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigid*,  n  45,  p.  to  373. 


S4  LTFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 

were  released  from  their  several  afflictions,  through  Divine  assistance,  and 
the  prayers  of  our  merciful  saint.5-* 

After  this,  Brigid  went  to  a  place,  adjoining  the  sea,  and  at  no  great  distance 
from  that  house  in  which  Bishop  Ere  then  dwelt.55  Here  she  remained  for 
a  long  time,  with  her  companions.56  An  anchoret  lived  not  far  from  them. 
He  was  a  most  devout  and  perfect  man.  Wishing  to  avoid  all  female 
society,  he  sought  a  desert  place  for  his  habitation,  and  directed  his  course 
to  an  island.3?  "  While  on  his  way  thither,  he  came  near  a  cell,  in  which 
St.  Brigid  lodged.  The  disciples  of  the  anchoret  said  to  him  :  "  O  Father, 
let  us  visit  holy  Brigid,  that  she  may  bless  us."  The  anchoret  replied: 
"  My  children,  you  know  already  my  vow  to  visit  no  woman/'5'  Then 
continuing  their  course,  they  recollected,  in  the  evening  when  they  had 
reached  a  hospice,  that  some  of  their  luggage  had  been  left  behind.  It  was 
generally  supposed,  this  loss  of  their  effects  occurred,  through  their  neglect 
of  visiting  our  saint  to  receive  her  blessing,  and  they  resolved  to  fast  that 
night,  in  atonement  for  their  fault.  After  these  religious  men  had  taken 
their  departure,  St.  Brigid  was  inspired  to  address  the  following  words  to  her 
nuns  :  "  Go  and  bring  hither  the  property  of  God's  servants,  and  which  has 
been  left  behind  on  the  road  near  to  us."  On  the  following  morning,  the 
monks  went  back  to  Brigid,  and  found  their  effects  in  her  safe  keeping. 
The  holy  anchoret  and  his  disciples  remained  three  days  and  as  many  nights, 
near  to  where  she  lived.  All  offered  joint  prayers  to  Heaven.  God's  holy 
word5'?  was  preached,  likewise,  during  this  visit. 

Those  devout  men  afterwards  prosecuted  their  course,  and  St.  Brigid 
complied  with  their  wishes,  by  accompanying  them  one  day's  journey.  Our 
pious  virgin  had  compassion  on  those  disciples  of  the  anchoret,  for  she  saw 
their  burdens  were  too  heavy.  Beholding  two  horses  descend  towards  her 
from  a  neighbouring  mountain,  she  ordered  their  baggage  to  be  placed  on 
these  animals.  When  the  end  of  that  day's  journey  had  been  accomplished, 
Brigid  wished  the  return  of  those  horses  to  their  owners.  Her  desire  was 
accomplished.  aUhough  none  of  the  company  knew  whence  they  came,  or  to 
whom  they  belonged.  Parting  with  those  religious  men,  St.  Brigid  bestowed 
her  benediction  on  them.  Afterwards,  she  returned  towards  her  cell. 
When  that  anchoret  came  to  the  island  of  his  selection,  a  man  who  had 
previous  possession  entered  it,  with  his  wife,  sons,  daughters,  and  servants.60 


s*  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."     Vita  sihle  conjecture,  that  it  might  have  been  a 

Quarta   S.    Brigidre,   lib.   ii.,  cap.   xliv.,   p.  St.  Killian,  whose  festival  occurs  on  the  3rd 

557.     Also,    Vita  Tenia    S.   Bngida:,    cap.  of  March,    and    who   dwelt  in  the  island  of 

Ixxii.,  p.  536.     Ibid.  Inisdoimle,    within  the  bounds  of  Minister. 

55Dr  Lanigan  says  the  place  is  now  known  Perhaps  it  was  St.  Barrindus,  or  Bairrfinn, 

as     Kilbride,     near     Tramore,     Waterfonl  who  is  venerated  on  the  3Oth  of  January,  in 

County.      See    "Ecclesiastical    History   of  the  same  place.     See  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

Ireland,"  vol.  i ,  chap,  via.,  sec.  iv.,  and  n.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidne,  n.  47.  p.  544.^ 
54.  pp.  390,  391.  58  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 

56The  Third   Life  of  our  saint  says,  that  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S .  Brigida  Iber- 

she  remained  here  for  some  years.      Colgan  nese."  libro  quinto,  p.  375- 
thinks  this  place  where  she  lived  must  have  =5  See   Colgan's   "Trias    Thaumaturga." 

been   a  church,   called   Killbrighde,    or    St.  Vita   Quarta   S.   Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlv., 

Brigid's  cell,  in  Kill-medain  Deanery.    This  p.  557.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidne,  cap. 

place    is    to    be    found    in    a   catalogue    of  Ixxiii.,  p.  536.     Ibid. 

churches,    belonging  to   the  Waterford  dio-  6o  See    this   account    amplified    and    era- 

cese.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  bellished  with  illustrative  observations,  ac- 

Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  Ixxiii.,  and  n.  cording  to  his  usual  pedantic  style  of  quot- 

46,  pp.  536,  544.  ing  classical  and  sacred  writings,  in  Abbate 

57  Colgan  is  unable  to  identify  the  particu-  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santita   Prodi- 

lar  anchorite,  who  is  said  here  to  have  lived  giosa.     Vita  cli   S   Brigida  Ibernese,"  libro 

in  this  Munster  island.     He  hazards  a  pos-  quinto,  pp.  378  to  385. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  85 


Some  cattle,  also,  he  wished  should  graze  there  during  the  summer  season. 
The  holy  anchoret,  who  had  so  much  desired  separation  from  worldlings, 
besought  this  man  to  leave  the  place.  To  such  a  reque  t,  the  latter  would 
not  accede,  saying  that  he  held  this  island  as  a  portion  of  his  paternal  in 
heritance.  The  anchoret  then  sent  for  St.  Brigid,  to  exert  her  influence  in 
his  behalf;  and,  when  the  holy  virgin  came  to  the  place,  she  vainly  pleaded 
with  the  proprietor  to  relinquish  his  claim.  On  the  day  following,  however, 
a  large  eagle  came  and  bore  off  through  air  this  man's  infant  son.  The 
proprietor's  wife  and  the  child's  mother  came  to  St.  Brigid.  Her  interposi 
tion  was  sought  with  tears  and  lamentations.  Our  holy  virgin  said  :  "Weep  not, 
for  your  infant  lives."  The  eagle  brought  her  child  back  and  left  him  s.ifely 
on  the  shore.  The  infant's  father  was  still  obdurate,  and  dwelt  near  the 
place,  which  he  was  unwilling  to  leave  ;  but,  on  the  following  day,  Divine 
Omnipotence  wrought  a  miracle,  which  proved  the  cause  of  his  conversion. 
The  proprietor's  heart  was  now  touched,  and  he  repented  his  former 
obstinacy.  Afterwards,  he  devoted  himself  to  Cod  and  to  St.  Brigid,  pro 
mising  he  would  not  enter  into  that  island,  without  the  anchoret's  permission.61 
On  another  day,  while  St.  Brigid  remained  here,  some  religious  guests 
came  to  visit  her.6-*  Our  saint  gave  a  fisherman  directions  to  kill  seals,  and 
to  proceed  out  towards  the  sea,  in  search  of  something  for  her  guests. 63 
The  fisherman  took  his  lance,  or  harpoon,  which  served  to  capture  marine 
creatures.  When  he  had  sailed  out  to  sea,  a  seal  crossed  his  course. 
Raising  his  harpoon,  it  was  driven  home  into  the  animal's  head,  while  a  rope 
attached  to  it  remained  in  the  fisherman's  hand.  Having  received  a  deadly 
wound,  this  seal  drew  the  mariner  and  his  bark  out  towards  the  deep.  Nor 
was  his  course  stayed,  until  the  shore  of  a  certain  island,6*  lying  far  away  in 
the  ocean  was  reached.  There  the  rope  was  cut,  while  the  mariner  reached 
shore  in  his  boat.  That  seal,  however,  with  the  harpoon  fixed  in  his  head, 
took  an  opposite  direction.  It  swam  in  a  direct  line  towards  the  shore  of 
that  place,  where  St.  Brigid  dwelt,  and  there  the  animal  died.  The  Britons 
gave  the  man  a  currach  to  return, ^  and,  trusting  in  Divine  Providence,  as 
also  on  St.  Brigid's  protection,  the  fisher  set  out  in  this  frail  bark.  Through 
God's  blessing,  he  fortunately  reached  that  port  from  which  he  had  started, 
about  the  sixth  hour.66  There  he  found  the  seal,  lying  on  the  sea-shore,6? 
and  with  the  lance  fastened  in  him.  Entering  their  house,  he  gave  an  ac 
count,  setting  forth  those  incidents  of  his  voyage,  to  all  the  religious  in 
mates.63 


"Trias    Thaumaturga."  ^  According  to  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish 

Vita  Quarta  S.    Brigichv.',  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlvi.,  Life  of  St    I '.rigid,  this  incident  occurred  at 

xlvii.,  p.  557.    Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  Tcalagh  (TeaLch  na  Nespoc),  in  the  west 

cap.   Ixxiii.,   p.  536.      Ibid.     These  circum-  (cast  ?)  of  Leinster,  where  pious  nobles,  i.e., 

stances  are  related,  likewise,  with  some  ad-  seven  bishops,  were  her  guests,  pp.  37,  38. 

ditions   and   changes,   in  the  Sixth  Metrical  64  Possibly  the  Isle  of  Man. 

Lile   of  our   saint.      It    is  there  stated,  that  6j  Such  is  the  account  in  Professor  O'Loo- 

the  anchoret  was  r,  ;  nest,  and  that  he  was  ncy's  .Mamt.script. 

obliged  to  sail  over  in  a  vessel  to  t.e  island,  "  In  the  morning  he  went  across  the  Bri- 

when  he  came  to  a  seaport.   That  child  taken  tish   sea,    and   arrived    back   at   mid-day,  is 

a\vay  by  the  eagle  is  said   to  have  been  the  stated  in  Professor  O'Loi  ncy's  Manuscript, 

only  charge   his   parents  had,  and  in  cun.se-  °?  "  Of  the   Lein>trr  sea  'at   this  side"  is 

quence   lie  was  great  y   belo\ed    by    them.  stated  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Manuscript. 

See  Vita  Sexta  S.    Ur  gickv,  sees.  NX.,  xxi.,  tt!  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"    Vita 

xxii.,  xxin.,  pp.  585,  586.     Ibid.  Quana   S.    Brigida,',  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xlvii.,  p. 

'  See  this  account  as  given  by  Abbate  D.  557.      In  the  'fhird  Life  of  our   saint,   it   is 

Giacomo  Lertani,  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  said,  that  the  fisherman  was  dragged  by  the 

Vitadi  S.  Bngula  Ibernese."    Libro  Quinto,  wounded  seal  to  the  British  coast,  when  the 

pp.   385   to   387.       He  places  the  incident  rope   \\as   cut   by  a  rock  on  the  sea-shore, 

here  narrated  at  Kill-Medain.  See  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida',  cap.  kxiv.,  p. 


86  LIFE  Of  ST.  BRIGID. 


Afterwards,  St.  Brigid,  with  her  nuns,  went  towards  Cliach  plain,6?  in  the 
county  of  Limerick,  and  province  of  Munster.?0  At  a  certain  place  there,  she 
remained  for  some  time.  During  this  interim,  a  fugitive  female  servant  came 
to  her,  for  she  had  left  a  mistress  whose  bearing  was  intolerable.  However, 
following  this  servant,  the  mistress  intended  to  bring  her  back  ;  but,  Brigid, 
wishing  to  procure  the  captive  liberty,  besought  her  manumission.  That 
female  slave-owner  would  not  agree  to  her  proposition,  as  the  servant  wove 
valuable  stuffs.  The  imperious  dame,  taking  her  maid  by  the  hand,  even 
proceeded  to  drag  her,  with  some  degree  of  violence,  from  the  saint's  side. 
Such  conduct  greatly  displeased  Brigid,  and  when  the  servant  had  been 
drawn  a  certain  distance  from  her,  the  tyrannical  mistress's  right  hand,  which 
held  the  slave,  immediately  withered.  Then  sorrowfully  the  dame  wept, 
finding  herself  unable  to  move  her  hand.  On  retiring,  she  repented  this 
violence.  She  restored  her  maid  to  freedom,  and  at  the  same  time  sent  her 
to  our  saint.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  woman's  hand  recovered  its  former 
strength.?1 

Referable  to  the  fine  early  national  taste  for  music  and  poetry,  in  alluding 
to  the  succeeding  incident  recorded  in  St.  Brigid's  Acts,  an  agreeable  French 
writer  observes,  that,  as  being  children  of  Erin,  austere  eremites,  contem 
plative  virgins,  grave  abbots,  and  venerable  bishops,  heard  with  delight  the 
metallic  harp-strings  vibrate  harmoniously,  where  such  practices  were  fos 
tered.?2  When  St.  Bridget  visited  the  county  of  Limerick,  she  had  an  inter 
view  with  a  chieftain,  who  lived  there  in  Cliach  plain.  73  This  district 
stretched  over  the  country  around  Knockany,  and  it  embraced  in  part  the 
barony  of  Conagh.  74  St.  Brigid  had  been  asked  to  procure  liberty  for  a 
certain  captive  ;  but,  when  she  came  to  the  chief's  house  for  such  a  purpose, 
he  was  not  at  home.  The  chief's  foster-father  and  his  children,  however, 
were  in  the  house.  St.  Brigid  asked  them  to  play  upon  harps,  which  were 
hanging  there,  but  they  told  her  that  the  harpers  were  away.  Hereupon, 
some  of  Brigid's  companions  jocularly  remarked,  they  should  try  their  skill, 
as  the  saint  would  bless  their  hands,  and  enable  them  to  play,  if  they  only 
attempted  it.  Then,  the  chief's  foster-father,  with  his  sons,  said,  "  May 
God's  saint  bestow  her  blessing  to  enable  us  to  harp  for  her."  Brigid  gave 
her  benediction  to  those,  -uho  were  ignorant  of  musical  art  or  notes.  Then 
they  played  with  all  the  skill  of  trained  harpers.  While  thus  engaged, 
the  chief  returned  towards  his  house.  Approaching  it,  he  asked  who  had 
produced  this  music  he  heard.  When  told  it  was  his  foster-father,  with  his 
sons,  and  at  St.  Brigid's  command,  the  chief  was  amazed.?'  He  next  asked 
a_blessing  from  their  illustrious  visitor.  This  she  promised  to  bestow,  pro 
vided  he  would  liberate  the  captive.  With  her  request  he  complied.  The 
foster-father  and  his  sons  followed  the  profession  of  harpers  to  the  very  day 

536,  Ibid.  lxxv  }  p.  536(  ibidm 

'Colgan   says,   this   appears   to   be   the  ?2  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval's  "  Histoire 

pl»n  in  Momonia  which   stretches  around  Legendaire  de  1'Irlande,"  chap.    via.,  pp. 

Cnoc   Ame   mountain,    for   the   district   in  79,  80. 


,       . 

is  called  Aine-CHach.     See  "it  is  called  Aracliach  by  the  writers  of 

irias  Ihaumaturga,"  Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri-  our  Irish  chronicles.     See  Colgan's  "Acta 

gidffi,  n.  48,  p.  544.  Sanctorum  Hibernise,"  Jan.   iii.,  p.  11,  n. 

70  It  is  amusing  to  read  in  D.  Giacomo  4. 

Certam,  this  place  called  Aine  Chiac,  under  74  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 

the  mountain  of  Croc  Aine.    See  "La  San-  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,   viii.,  §  iv  , 

tita   Prodigiosa      Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber-  and  n.  55,  pp.   390,  391,  and  chap   vi.,  § 

ne7sf-Q   L;bro  Qumto-  PP-  387,  388.  viii.,  P.  287,  ibil 

bee  Lolgan's    "  Trias   Thaumaturga."  75  See  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santita 

yuarta  Vita  S.  Briridas,  lib    ii.,  cap.  xlix.,  p.  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di   S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 

ISO,  Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidae,   cap.  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  392  to  395. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  87 


of  their  death.  In  after  times,  their  posterity  even  became  esteemed  as  the 
bards  of  kings. ?6 

At  another  time,  two  lepers  visited  Brigid,  and  entreated  her  to  cleanse 
them  from  their  leprosy.  Then  praying  to  God,  the  saint  blessed  some 
water,  in  which  she  told  these  lepers  they  should  wash  each  other.??  While 
one  washed  his  companion,  this  latter  was  freed  from  his  leprosy.  Clean 
garments  were  then  put  upon  him.  The  virgin  afterwards  said  to  the  re 
stored  man,  "  Do  you,  in  like  manner,  wash  your  companion."  Finding 
that  he  was  cleansed  and  had  clean  garments,  the  person  addressed  felt 
pleased  at  his  good  fortune  ;  but,  he  had  a  great  repugnance  to  touch  his 
afflicted  fellow-man.  Our  saint  observed,  he  should  do  for  his  neighbour, 
what  he  wished  the  latter  to  do  for  him  ;  yet,  still  he  objected  and  absolutely 
refused.  Then  Brigid,  rising  up,  washed  that  leper  with  her  own  hands, 
until  he  was  cleansed.  Afterwards,  she  had  him  clothed  with  clean  gar 
ments.  He  who  had  been  first  healed  then  said,  "Just  now,  I  feel  sparks 
of  fire  settling  on  my  shoulders.'"'  Immediately  his  whole  body  was  covered 
anew  with  leprosy,  as  a  punishment  for  his  pride  or  want  of  charity.  Thus 
was  fulfilled  that  Scripture  sentence,  "  He  who  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
humbled  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted."?8  The  restored 
man  rejoiced  and  gave  thanks  to  God,  who  had  healed  him,  through  Brigid's 
transcendent  merits. 7? 

Two  other  lepers  seeking  alms  came  to  the  charitable  abbess.  But,  she 
had  nothing  to  give  at  the  time,  save  a  cow,  and  this  she  offered  for  division 
between  them.  One  gave  thanks  to  God  for  her  gift ;  but  the  other,  who 
was  proud  and  ungrateful,  said,  unless  the  whole  cow  were  bestowed,  he 
should  not  receive  that  part  of  it,  which  might  fall  to  his  lot.So  Then  our 
saint  addressed  the  humble  leper  :  "  Do  you  wait  awhile  with  me,  until  the 
Lord  send  us  something,  and  let  the  other  man  have  this  cow  to  himself." 
The  covetous  man  departed  with  the  animal,  but  after  awhile  he  found  him 
self  unable  to  drive  it.  At  length,  wearied  with  such  vain  efforts,  he  re 
turned  to  St.  Brigid.  He  even  insulted  her  with  reproaches,  conveyed  in 
these  terms  :  "  1  could  not  urge  the  animal  forward,  because  you  have  not 
given  her,  with  a  willing  mind,  besides  you  are  too  exacting  and  severe." 
The  abbess  endeavoured  to  appease  him,  but  she  could  not  succeed.  This 
conduct,  so  perfectly  unjustifiable,  much  displeased  her.  At  length,  she 
said  to  the  insolent  fellow,  "  Thou  art  a  son  of  perdition,  and  your  cow  shall 
now  become  docile,  yet  this  shall  not  profit  you  in  the  least."  At  that 
very  moment,  a  man  presented  himself  with  a  cow,  which  he  destined  as  an 
offering  for  St.  Brigid.  This  gift,  however,  our  virgin  handed  over  to  the 
good  leper.  Then  both  lepers  drove  their  respective  cows  towards  a  river.81 
Here  the  unthankful  man  was  drowned,  nor  was  his  body  afterwards  re 
covered.  The  humble  leper  safely  escaped  from  danger,  and  brought  his 
cow  with  him.82 


76  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  Ixxvii.,  p.  537,  ibid. 

Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Ixxvi.,  pp.  536,  8o  See  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

537.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  S.    Brigida  Ibernese."      Libro  Quinto,  pp. 

!•>  PP-  557.  558,  itid.  398  to  401. 

77  This  account  is  contained  in  Abbate  D.  *' In    Professor   O'Looney's   Life   of  St. 
Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Brigid,  where  this  miracle  is  recorded,  the 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."   Libro  Quinto,  river  in  question  is  called  the  Bearbha,  or 
pp.  395  to  39$.  Barrow  ;   and,  from  this  it  would  seem,  St. 

78  Luke,  xviii.  14.  Brigid  was  hardly  in  Munster  at  the  time  of 

79  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  its  occurrence,  see  pp.  331036. 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  li.,  p.  82  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

558.     Also,   Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigida;,  cap.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  lii.,  p. 


88  LIFE  OF  SI.  BRIGID. 


Many  other  actions  of  St.  Brigid,  and  worthy  of  being  recorded,  took 
place,  while  she  dwelt  in  the  Minister  province.  T litre  she  also  blessed 
many  churches  and  monasteries.  Afterwards,  she  set  out  on  a  journey  to 
her  own  city,  in  the  province  of  Lcinster.  Travelling  through  the  plain  of 
Femhin,  in  her  chariot,  she  met  a  husbandman,  cultivating  his  field,  or  en 
closing  it  with  a  hedge.  The  charioteer  of  the  holy  virgin  said  to  him  : 
"  Allow  us  to  pass  the  chariot  of  St.  Brigid  through  your  land,  and  after 
wards  you  can  surround  your  field,  with  a  hedge."  The  husbandman  refused 
this  request,  however,  and  told  the  charioteer  he  must  drive  round  the  cir 
cuit  of  the  field.83  Our  holy  virgin  hereupon  replied  :  "  Let  us  do  as  he  re 
quires,  lest  any;hing  happen  on  this  man's  account.''  Still,  the  charioteer 
disobeyed  her,  and  drove  his  horses  into  the  man's  field.  On  seeing  this, 
however,  the  owner  furiously  struck  the  horses'  heads  with  a  club.  This 
assault  caused  the  animals  to  prove  restive.  Although,  St.  Brigid  was  then 
thrown  out  of  her  chariot,  she  suffered  no  further  injury,  while  her  charioteer 
was  hurt  by  the  fall.  Afterwards,  her  horses  stood  quietly,  the  holy  woman 
saying,  i;  Did  I  not  tell  you  to  avoid  this  man,  because  I  foresaw  he  was 
doomed  to  death  and  destruction."  The  rude  agriculturist  was  about  to 
repeat  his  violent  behaviour,  disregarding  the  wickedness  he  meditated 
against  God's  holy  servant.  But  the  Almighty  avenged  the  injury  and  insult 
offered  to  his  saint;  for  that  insolent  boor  was  prostrated  on  the  earth,  and 
there  he  died.84  We  are  next  told,  that  the  pious  abbess  came  towards 
Leinster's  bounds,  and  entered  a  province  or  region,  called  Labrathi,85  or 
Labraide.  This  is  supposed56  to  be  an  equivalent  for  Hy-Kinsellach.8? 
There,  she  dwelt  in  a  certain  spot.88  Whilst  here,  a  woman,  accompanied 
by  a  leprous  daughter,  visited  our  holy  virgin,  to  interest  this  latter  in  her 
cure.  The  charitable  servant  of  God  fasted,  and  blessed  some  water,8?  with 
which  she  ordered  the  leprous  girl  to  be  washed.  No  sooner  had  the 
patient  been  sprinkled  with  this  water,  than  she  was  cleansed  from  her 
leprosy.  Both  the  mother  and  her  daughter' then  gave  thanks  to  God  and 
to  St.  Brigid.9° 


558.     Also,  Vita  Tertia   S.  Brigidm,   cap.  to  Bressal  Belach,  King  of  Leinster,  was  the 

Ixxix.,  p.  537,   ibid.     This  miracle,  accord-  founder  of  the  Hy  Kinselach  family.     From 

ing  to   Colgun,    is  alluded   to,    in   the   Vita  a   son   Enda,    surnamed   Kinselach,  and  his 

Sexta  S.  Brigida_>,  §  xvii.,   p.    585,  where  a  family,    this   territory   had    been  called  Hy- 

portion   is  truncated,    through    the   fault  of  Kenselach.       See    '"'Trias    Thaumaturga." 

him  who  copied  the  original  M.S.    See  ibid.,  Tertn  Vita  S.  Brigida.',  n.  50,  p.  544.   Also, 

n.  II,  p.  598.     Vet,  it  may  be  doubted,  if  Dr.    Lanigan's    "Ecclesiastical    History   of 

the  latter  fragmentary  account  had  not  refer-  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,   chap,  viii.,  §   iv.,    and  n. 

ence,   rather  to  a    miracle,  which  is  related  57,  pp.  390,  391. 
in  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida;,  cap.  ci.,  p.  540,  86  By  Colgan. 

and  in  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidx,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  s?  If  so,  it  was  a  well-known  territory  in 

Ixx.,  p.  560,  ihid.  southern  Leinster. 

_  83See   D.  Giacomo  Certani's   "La  San-  S8  See  the  account  given  in  Abbate  D. 

tita  Prodigiosa.      Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber-  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 

nese.       Libro  Quinto,  pp.  401  to  404.  Vitadi  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."   Libro  Quinto, 

4  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  p.  404,  et  seq. 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida?,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  liii.,  8»  There  was  a  well,  bearing  the  name  of 

p.  558.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida:,  cap.  Tobar-Brigdhe   in   Hy-Kinsellagh.      It  was 

Ixxx.,   p.  537,  ibid.      In  the  latter  life,  it  is  much    resorted    to,    on    account   of  various 

Brigid  went  from  Clinch  plain  to  cures  wrought  there,  in  Colgan's  time.    This 

Leinster,   to  assist  the  pour  of  her  race,  in  distinguished  Irish  hagiologist  and  antiqua- 

er  province.      It  is  stated,  also,  that  rian  is   of  opinion,  tliat  this   spring,  which 

le  was  hurt,  as  well  as  her  charioteer,  when  was  situated  in  the  Leinster  province,  must 

1   from   the    chariot.     The    work,  at  have   been   one   mentioned   in    St.    Braid's 

winch  the  man  was  engaged,  is  said  to  have  Acts,    as  having  had    a   miraculous  origin. 

been  enclosing  his  field  with  a  hedge.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  n.  44,  p.  544. 

A  certain  Labratius  or  Lauradius,  son          9osee   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID,  89 


We  are  told,''1  that  Brigid,  with  her  religious  daughters,  took  a  journey 
towards  Connaught ;  as,  for  special  reasons,  she  wished  to  leave  her  own 
province  of  Leinster.  On  arriving  in  Connaught,  she  dwelt,  for  a  time,  in 
the  plain  of  Hai.92  This  was  a  large  and  an  extensive  plain,  situated  in  the 
county  of  Roscommon  and  province  of  Connaught.  While  there,  she  built 
cells  and  monasteries,  in  the  surrounding  country.  Then,  also,  did  she  take 
possession  of  that  parish,  about  which  she  uttered  the  prophecy  during  her 
infancy,  by  saying  :  "  This  shall  be  mine,  this  shall  be  mine. '"93  It  is  sup 
posed,  that  some  of  the  cells  and  monasteries,  said  to  have  been  founded 
there,  and  in  its  neighbourhood,  by  St.  Brigid.  were  probably  Kill-bride, 94 
in  the  territory  of  Siol-Muireadhaigh  ;  Druim-na-bfeadh,95  and  Disert,  within 
the  district  Tir-Mhaine;  and  Druim-dhaim  or  Druim-dubhain,s6  in  the 
territory  of  Tiroilill.97 

In  the  Third  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  an  account  relating  to  this  journey  is 
given,  and  towards  the  end  of  that  treatise.'3  It  is  probable  enough,  as 
numbers  of  pious  females  flocked  from  various  districts  in  Ireland,  to  embrace 
a  religious  rule,  under  our  saint's  direction,  that  she  might  h  ive  judged  it  ex 
pedient,  to  extend  her  institute,  in  various  districts  of  which  several  pious 
postulants  were  natives.  Besides  the  inconvenience  of  having  so  many 
persons  living  in  the  same  establishment,  it  is  likely,  Brigid  had  been  invited 
by  some  bishops,  to  found  houses  lor  religious  women,  in  their  respective 
dioceses,  to  forward  thereby  and  diffuse  more  widely  the  interests  of  religion. 99 
When  necessity  or  duty  required,  consecrated  virgins  often  appeared,  and 
travelled  on  public  roads.  Although  there  are  several  places  in  Connaught 
mentioned,  as  bearing  Brigid's  name  ;  yet,  we  are  not  bound  to  believe,  that 
nunneries  or  churches  were  established  in  all  such  localities  by  the  holy 
virgin,  nor  during  her  lifetime.100  Many  of  these  had  probably  been  erected 
at  periods  long  subsequent  ;  and  their  dedication,  either  to  her  conventual 
discipline,  or  possibly  only  under  her  invocation,  may  be  fairly  assumed,  in 
the  majority  of  cases.  The  series  of  our  saint's  transactions  has  been  con 
fused,  and  frequently  inverted,  by  her  different  biographers.  Dates  or  localities 
for  these  narratives  are  not  generally  specified.  With  respect  to  the  present 


Vita    Quart  a   S.  Brigidir,  lib.    ii.,  cap.  liv.,  the  Franciscan  order,  but  he  deserved  well 

p.  558.      Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigido.',  cap.  Ixxx.,  of  Ireland  in  general. 

P-  537.  *h<t-  ^  There  the  saint  is  said  to  have  dwelt  in 

1  In  the  Fourth  T.ife.  the  plain  of  "Air."     In  a  note  Colgan  adds, 

9Mn   Cohan's   time,    it   was   called,   Ma-  that    in    the    Iri.-h    language,    it    is    called, 

chaire  Connacht ;  and,  in  more  ancient  times,  Ma^h.iir,  i.  f.,  "  the  plain  of  slaughter."  In 

Mag-ai.  the   Fourth   Life,   lib.   i.,    cap.    40,    we  find 

93  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Quarta  it    placed    in    the    province   of  Connauglit, 
Vita   S.  Brigidne,  lib.  i.,  cap.   xlix.,   and  n.  where  St.  Brigid  and  St.  Bronins  are  known 
2O>  PP-  549.  564-  to  have  dwelt,  at  the  time  of  the  occurrences 

94  Kill-brigde,   already  mentioned,  was  a  narrated.    See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita 
chapel,  in  the  parish  of  Kill-luckin.  Tertia  S.  Brigidx,  cap.  xciv.,  and  n.  56,  pp. 

95  Druim-na-bfeadh  was  a  parochial  church,  539,  544,  545. 

belonging  to  the  diocese  of  Tuam,  or  other-  ^  tei'fia,  or  the  country  about  Ardagh,  of 

wise,  of  Klphin.  v  hkh  St.  Mel  was  bishop,  having  been  par- 

96  Disert  and  Druimdhain  were  parocl.;,  ticularly  mentioned  as  a  district  travelled  by 
churches,  belonging  to   the    diocese  of   El-  our  saint,  her  frequent   interviews  with  that 
phin.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix  prelate  may  have  given  rise  to  an  opinion, 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.   Brigida;,  cap.  xvi.,  pp.  that  she  received  the  religious  veil,   at  his 
6^4,  625.  hands. 

«  In  each  of  these  places.  St.  Brigid  was  Ico  See  the  observations  of  Dr.  Lanigan  on 

venerated,  as  the  special  patroness,  accord-  this  subject,   and   on   matters    preceding,  in 

ing  to  a  catalogue  of  churches,  in  Elphin  his  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol. 

diocese,  sent  to  Colgan,  by  the  Most   Rev.  i,    chap,    viii  ,   §  iv.,   and  nn.   53,   60,  pp. 

Boetius    Egan,    Bishop    of   Eiphin.      This  389,  390,  391. 
worthy  prelate  was  not  only  an  ornament  to 


9o  LIFE  OF  ST.  BR1GID. 

journey  of  our  saint  to  Connaught,  as  in  the  other  cases,  Brigid  and  her 
companions,  in  travelling  from  one  place  to  another,  were  often  obliged  to 
lodge  at  private  houses.101 

While  our  saint  remained  in  this  part  of  the  country,  one  day  she  went 
to  receive  the  Holy  Eucharist,  from  a  certain  bishop.102  One  of  the  clergy 
held  the  chalice,  from  which  our  saint  refused  to  drink,  on  beholding  within 
it  the  vision  of  a  monster.  The  bishop  demanded  a  reason  for  her  refusal, 
and  on  being  informed,  he  asked  the  assistant  cleric,  what  crime  he  had 
committed,  urging  him  at  the  same  time  to  confess  his  sin,  and  glorify  God. 
The  cleric103  humbly  confessed,  that  he  had  partaken  of  what  had  been 
stolen.  The  prelate  then  requested  him  to  repent.  On  complying  with  this 
injunction,  penitently  weeping,  our  saint  approached  to  partake  of  the  chalice, 
and  Brigid  found  the  monster  had  disappeared.  Thus  the  tears  of  this  cleric 
procured  pardon  for  his  offence;  while,  the  virgin  and  the  bishop  retired  rejoic 
ing  from  the  church,  after  having  been  refreshed  with  our  Lord's  body  and 
blood.104  At  another  time,  a  certain  aged  woman  had  a  dangerous  infirmity, 
and  Brigid,  with  many  holy  women  of  the  place,  visited  her,  to  watch  and 
pray  by  her  bedside.  When  this  sick  person  was  at  the  point  of  death,  some 
of  her  attendants  suggested,  that  her  better  or  superfluous  garments  might 
be  removed,  before  departure,  and  especially  to  save  the  trouble  of  after 
wards  washing  them  at  a  very  cold  time  of  the  year.  But,  St.  Brigid  would 
not  consent  to  this  course,  saying,  the  patient  should  not  live  long,  and  that 
it  was  not  charitable,  to  take  away  those  garments  she  wore,  as  a  protection 
from  that  season's  inclemency.105  All  who  were  there  admired  the  saint's 
charity,  and  returned  thanks  to  God.105  We  are  told,  also,  that  when  St. 
Brigid  dwelt  in  this  part  of  the  country,  she  was  often  accustomed  to  seek  a 
pool  of  cold  water,  near  the  monastery.10?  There  she  remained  immersed, 
while  she  prayed  and  wept  during  the  whole  night.  This  rigorous  mortifi 
cation  at  one  time  she  endured,  while  snow  and  frost  prevailed,  and  in  pre 
sence  of  one  from  among  her  sisterhood.  But,  as  this  rough  corporal  treat 
ment  surpassed  the  powers  of  nature  to  endure,  for  any  continued  length  of 
time ;  so,  it  pleased  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  to  prevent  it,  by  a 
miracle.  On  a  night  immediately  following  the  occurrence  related,  Brigid 
went  with  the  same  companion  to  renew  like  austerities,  but  on  arriving  at 
the  pond,  it  was  found  to  have  become  completely  dry,  nothing  appearing 
but  the  exposed  bottom  sands.  Surprised  at  this  occurrence,  the  virgins  re 
turned  home  ;  yet,  at  the  earliest  hour  of  day-break,  on  the  following  morn 
ing,  its  waters  were  found  to  have  returned  to  their  usual  level  in  the  lou^h. 


01  The  missionary  state  of  things  at  the  under  both  species.     We  have  also  warrant 

time  warrants  such  a  supposition.  for  the  Catholic  dogmas  of  the  Real  Pre- 

13  In  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  account,  he  sence  and  Sacramental  Confession,  prevail- 

is  called  Bishop  Bron.     See   "La  Santita  ing  in  the  early  Irish  Church,  from  the  fore- 

Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  going  narrative. 

Libre i  Quinto,  pp.  408  to  410.  ^  See    Abbate    D.    Giacomo    Certani's 

>In   Certams   account   he   is   called   a  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Bri- 

deacon-  ,  gida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  410  to 

^  Such  is  the  narrative  as  given  in  the  412. 

Fourth  Life  of  pur  saint.     An  account  in  '°6ln  giving  an  account  of  this  circum- 

tne   1  hird  Life  is   nearly  similar,  only  we  stance,  our  saint  is  said  to  have  wrought  a 

are  told  in  this  latter,  that  one  of  the  bishop's  miracle,  recorded  in  the  Third  Life      It  is 

boys  held  the  chalice.     In  the  former,  it  is  also  mentioned  in  the  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidce, 

said,      unus  tune  de  mimstris  Christi  tenebat  §  Ivii.,  p    594 

calicem."     It  would  seem  from  this  anec-  «>7  See    Abbate    D.     Giacomo    Certani's 

dote   according  to  the  primitive  discipline  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Bri- 

of   he  Irish  Church,  m  St.  Brigid's  time,  gida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  412  to 

that  Holy  Communion  had  been  received  417. 


LIPE  OP  ST.  BRIG  ID.  91 


St.  Brigid  resolved  the  third  night  similarly  to  repeat  her  practice,  when  a 
similar  disappearance  of  the  waters  took  place  on  her  approach.  These  waters 
returned  to  the  bed  of  that  lough  early  on  the  following  morning.  Almighty 
power  was  pleased  to  work  such  a  miracle,  on  account  of  God's  holy  servant. 
Always  pleasing  in  his  sight,  as  the  beloved  disciple,  St.  John,  Brigid  had 
been  delivered  from  impending  torture  and  death.  A  knowledge  of  this 
event,  also,  caused  all  persons  to  extol  those  wondrous  favours  of  Heaven 
manifested  towards  the  holy  abbess,  who  was  entreated  by  her  friends  to  re 
strain  her  mortifications,  because  they  seemed  to  be  providentially  discou 
raged.  Coinciding  in  a  like  opinion,  Brigid  yielded  her  own  desires  to  these 
urgent  requests,  after  such  Divine  warnings.103 

Following  nearly  the  order  of  events,  henceforward,  as  recorded  in  the 
Fourth  Life  of  our  saint — although  it  is  by  no  means  certain,  that  the  series 
of  her  actions  as  given  in  the  Third  Life  might  not,  on  the  whole,  be  more 
strictly  chronological  and  consecutive — it  will  be  necessary,  mainly  to 
accommodate  those  narratives  contained  in  her  other  lives,  to  accounts  com 
prised  in  the  Second  Book.10^  By  adopting  this  course,  we  are  brought  im 
mediately  to  the  foundation  of  her  great  religious  establishment  at  Kildare  ; 
and,  from  the  most  reliable  chronological  date,  a  considerable  period  must 
have  elapsed  from  the  time  of  this  erection  to  the  year  of  her  death.  This 
appears  the  more  necessary,  to  give  some  degree  of  probability  to  accounts 
regarding  her  various  journeys  in  distant  parts  of  the  island,  while  promoting 
the  great  objects  of  her  mission.  Sufficient  time  should  thus  be  allowed  for 
accomplishing  those  excursions,  and  for  the  performance  of  many  miracles, 
attributed  to  her,  in  connexion  with  various  localities.  It  is  to  be  regretted, 
however,  that  the  places  where  they  occurred  are  rarely  mentioned,  nor  are 
times  usually  specified,  by  any  of  her  biographers. 

While  Brigid  resided  in  the  western  province,  the  fame  of  her  sanctity 
became  diffused  all  over  Ireland.  Numbers  flocked  from  all  parts  to  visit 
her  ; — some  for  the  purpose  of  holding  conferences  or  seeking  advice  on  re 
ligious  matters— others  for  the  relief  of  corporal  and  physical  necessities. 
But  the  people  of  Leinster— especially  those  residing  in  the  territory,  where 
she  was  born110  and  had  received  her  earliest  education— conceived  them 
selves  best  entitled  to  the  honour  ami  advantages  to  be  derived,  from  the 
holy  virgin's  local  residence.  Taking  counsel  together,  they  resolved  on 
sending  a  respectful  request,  through  a  deputation  of  her  friends,  that  the 
virgin  might  be  induced  to  revisit  her  own  province,  there  to  found  a  reli 
gious  house,  which  should  become  the  parent  establishment  for  her  different 
institutes,  throughout  the  whole  island.  Having  arrived  in  Connaught,  this 
deputation  proceeded  to  unfold  the  object  of  their  journey,  and  to  enforce 
their  wishes  by  such  reasons  as  they  supposed  should  soonest  determine  her 
acquiescence,  in  the  unanimous  opinion  of  those  people  whom  they  repre 
sented.  Brigid  yielded  without  much  difficulty  to  their  desires.  Having 
arranged  matters,  connected  with  her  existing  nunneries,  in  the  western  pro 
vince,  she  set  out  towards  her  better  known  district.111 

Returning  to  Leinster,  she  was  obliged  to  cross  the  river  Shannon,"2  and 


Ifc8See  Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturge,"  '"  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His- 

Vita  Quarta  S.   Brigida:,  lib.  i.,  cap.  1.,  li.,  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  §  x.,  pp. 

Hi.,   pp.    549,    550.     Also,   Vita  Tertia  S.  405,406. 

Brigidx,    cap.    xcir.,    xcv.,   xcvi.    p.    539,  II2  "  Intra  quam  Kelltraest  conventus  rite 

ibid.    ^  virorum 

39  Xamely  of  St.  P>rigid's  Fourth  Life.  Prudeivium,  sacro  Benedict!  dogmate 

10  This   place,  however,   was   not  within  florens." 

the  bounds  of  ancient  Leinster  ;  if  we  credit  So  says  the  Sixth  Life  of  our  saint.     The 

most  accounts.  place  here  mentioned  is  situated   between 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


we  are  told,  that  she  came  to  a  place  called  Ath-Luainri3  for  this  purpose. 
Tne  present  town  of  Athlone11-*  probably  marks  the  spot.  This  is  situated 
nearly  in  the  centre  of  Ireland,  being  partly  in  the  county  of  Roscommon, 
and  partly  in  that  of  Westmeath.  It  is  thought  to  have  derived  its  name 
from  Ath,  an  Irish  word  signifying  "  ford,"  and  Lnan,  "  the  moon,"11'  to 
which  heathen  deity  it  was  said  to  have  been  dedicated  in  pagan  times.116 
Near  it  is  Tobar-Brigdhe,  on  the  Connaught  side. "7  Here,  St.  Bri<jid  found 
some  people,  respectively  belonging  to  the  province  of  Connaught  and  to 
the  race  of  Neill,  contending  with  each  other.  The  Shannon,  the  largest  of 
our  Irish  rivers,  formed  a  boundary,  between  the  ancient  provinces  of  Meath 
and  Connaught.  The  former  of  these  provinces  belonged  to  the  Hi  Niell 
family,  because  the  southern  O'Neills,  or  the  posterity  of  Laoim're,  Conall, 
Crimtnam,Fiach,and  Manius,four  sous  to  Niell  the  great.  King  of  Ireland,  were 
its  colonists.  The  companions  of  St.  Brigid  asked  some  ferry-men  on  the 
river  bank  to  take  them  across,  but  the  boatmen  demnnded  a  fare  for  this 
service."3  This  demand  the  sisters  refused  to  comply  with,  and  they  de 
clared  their  intention  to  walk  across  the  river,"9  believing  that  through  St. 
Brigid's  blessing  the  Almighty  would  preserve  them,  as  he  had  formerly 
opened  a  passage  through  the  Red  Sea  and  the  river  Jordan,  for  his  ser- 


the  ancient  territories  of  Thomoncl  and  Con- 
naught.  It  is  an  island  in  the  Shannon,  now 
called  Inis-Keltra.  The  circumstance  of  the 
Benedictine  institute  mentioned,  as  flourish 
ing  there,  at  a  time  when  the  Sixth  Life  was 
written,  may  furnish  a  clue  to  the  period  of 
its  composition.  The  foregoing  Latin  lines 
are  quoted  by  Archdall.  who  gives  us  no 
account,  however,  regarding  a  Benedictine 
institute  having  been  here  established.  Yet, 
he  seems  to  refer  its  foundation  to  the 
seventh  or  eighth  century.  See  "  Monas- 
ticon  Hibernicum,"  p.  48. 

113  In  Irish,  it  is  called  Athhtain,  a  town 
lying  between  the  ancient  bounds  of  Con- 
naught  and  Meath,  where  the  Shannon  sepa- 
fated  both  provinces.  A  bridge  thrown 
across  the  river  afforded  a  passage  long  be 
fore  Colgan's  time,  and  at  present,  more 
than  one  bridge  spans  the  Shannon,  at  this 
place.  In  the  Latin  lives  of  St.  Brigid,  it 
is  here  said,  that  she  came,  "  juxta  vadum 
Lua,"  or  otherwise  "  vacli  luain,"  as  ex 
pressed  in  "  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidte,''  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  i. 

^"4  It  seem?  unaccountable,  when  Marcus 
Keane  in  his  "Towers  and  Temples  of  An 
cient  Ireland"  alludes  to  St.  Lu  n  alias  Mo- 
lua— whom  he  identifies  with  a  Pagan  divi 
nity,  the  Moon— that  the  writer  did  not  dis 
cover  such  fanciful  derivation  for  the  town, 
and  did  not  connect  St.  Luan  in  some  way 
with  Ath-luain,  which  is  missing  from  his 
curious  list  of  cognate  localities.  See  pp. 
59,  60.  . 

"=  A  very  interesting  account  of  this  town, 
and  the  sieges  it  stood,  tirst  when  Lieutenant- 
Genernl  Douglas  arrived  before  the  place, 
July  I  yth,  1090,  and  when  a  second  time 
General  de  Gmckell  appeared  before  it,  June 
igih,  1691,  at  the  head  of  27.000  men  are 
presented  in  Charles  FirenJi  Blake  Foster's 

"Irish  Chieftains;    or  a  Struggle  for  the 


Crown  ;  with  numerous  Notes  and  a  copious 
Appendix."  Chap,  xxi.,  pp.  166  to  168, 
and  chan.  xxx.  xxxi.,  pp.  208  to  220. 

"The  derivation  of  the  name  would 
appear  to  be  confirmed  by  the  discovery  of 
several  lunettes  and  crescents  of  gold  in  an 
adjoining  bog,  which  were  sold  to  a  Dublin 
jeweller  for  .£Sv8,  by  whom  they  were 
melted  down.  Had  they  been  previously 
examined  by  a  clever  antiquary,  they  would 
most  probably  have  thrown  great  light  on 
early  Irish  history,  as  I  have  been  informed 
that  some  of  them  bore  inscriptions  which 
were  unintelligible  to  the  finders." — Ibid., 
note  86,  p.  495. 

117  Colgan  informs  us  that  on  account  of 
many  miracles  wrought  there,  not  only 
Catholics,  but  those  without  the  fold,  were 
accustomed  to  visit  it,  coming  from  the  most 
distant  parts.  Whereupon,  the  illustrious 
Lord  Randall  MacDonnell,  Count  of  An 
trim,  distinguished  as  much  for  his  Christian 
piety  as  bv  his  noble  birth,  had  it  surrounded 
with  handsome  and  firmly-pointed  mason- 
work.  See  "Trias  Thaumahtrga,"  n.  44, 
p.  544.  It  must  be  incorrectly  stated  by 
Frazer,  that  the  first  Earl  of  Antrim  in  1685 
erected  nn  old  building.  wHch  enc'oses  the 
sacred  fountain  at  Brideswell,  in  Roscom 
mon  county,  about  six  and  a-half  miles  from 
Athlone.  Colgan,  who  mentions  it,  pub 
lished  his  work  in  1647.  many  years  pre 
vious.  The  inscription  on  a  door-way  over 
the  well  must  reveal  some  earlier  dnte.  See 
"  Hand  Book  for  Travellers  in  Ireland." 
No.  105,  p.  479. 

18  In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  it  is 
spid,  they  a^ked  for  a  clonk  or  a  blanket, 
belong'ng  to  these  virgins,  as  a  recompense 
lor  the  service  required. 

:'9  During  very  dry  seasons,  the  Shannon 
was  formerly  fordable  at  Athlone. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  93 


vants.120  Then  they  besought  their  holy  abbess  to  make  a  sign  of  the  cross 
over  the  Shannon  waters,  that  they  might  decrease,  so  as  to  become  fordable. 
This  request  she  heard  most  favourably  :  with  her  sisters  she  entered  the 
river,  and  in  presence  of  people  belonging  to  both  contending  factions.  To 
the  wonder  and  admiration  of  beholders,  although  without  the  aid  of  boats, 
the  strongest  men  and  soldiers  there  assembled  could  not  pass,  it  was  found, 
the  waters  did  not  reach  the  knees  of  this  holy  company  of  virgins,  then 
crossing.  Before  the  saint  and  her  companions  entered  the  river,  some 
clerics,  who  had  hired  a  small  vessel,  asked  one  of  Brigid's  nuns  to  accom 
pany  them.  She  permitted  a  young  and  timid  sister  to  cross  the  river  before 
her  in  that  vessel.1-'1  This  virgin  had  previously  asked  the  blessing  of  her 
superioress,  from  whom  she  feared  to  be  separated  in  crossing  over  ;  and 
Brigid  said  :  '•  Go  in  peace,  the  Lord  will  preserve  you.'"'  But,  in  sight  of 
all,  the  bark  sunk  in  the  mid-stream,  when,  fearful  of  danger,  the  men  invoked 
aid  from  the  holy  abbess.  Brigid  blessed  and  prayed  for  her  nun  ;  the 
waves  carried  this  sister  safely  to  her  destination,  without  even  wetting  her 
garments.  All,  who  were  near  the  spot,  gave  glory  to  God,  and  lauded  the 
wonders  it  pleased  Heaven  to  accomplish  through  the  merits  of  our  illus 
trious  saint.1-'2  Yet  greater  moral  miracles  than  these  was  she  destined  to 
effect ;  and,  filled  with  a  happy  inspiration,  she  directed  her  course  to  that 
place,  which  afterwards  became  inseparably  connected  with  her  heroic 
actions  while  living,  and  with  their  memory,  when  she  was  called  away  to 
her  eternal  reward. 


C  II  A  P  T  E  R     VI. 

KINGS  OF  IRELAND  IN  THE  FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  CENTURIES— CONDITION  OF  LEINSTER 
AFTER  THE  MIDDLE  OF  THE  FIFTH  CENTURY — KILDARE — PERIOD  WHEN  SELECTED 
BY  ST.  BRIGII)  FOR  HER  CHUT'  MONASTERY — GRADUAL  (iKUWTU  AND  IMPORTANCE 
OF  THE  1'LACE — INSTANCES  OF  HER  PROTECTION. 

THE  Annals  of  Ireland  relate  certain  revolutionary  changes,  whereby  the 
supreme  sovereignty  passed  from  one  family  line  to  another,  during  the  fourth 
and  fifth  centuries.  Ambitious  and  enterprising  warriors  aspired  to  rule  the 
island,  as  fortune  or  the  force  of  circumstances  favoured  their  designs. 
After  the  middle  of  the  fourth  century,1  the  monarch  Eochaidh,  surnamed 
Muigh  Mheadhoin,2  slew  his  predecessor,  Caelbadh,  A  n.  357,2  and  afterwards 
he  reigned  for  eight  years,4  when  he  died  at  Tara,5  A.D.  365.°  Twice  had  he 


1=0  Exodus,  xvi.  22.  3  This  is  set  down  to  A.D.  353    in    O'Ma- 

121  See  "  The  Life   of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  hony's    Keating's    "History     uf    Ireland," 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  v.,  pp.  65.  66.  booki.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  367.    He  only  reigned 

122  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  one  year.     See  Gratianus    Lucius  (Dr.  John 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidx-,  lib.  ii.,  cap.    i.,  ii.,  Lynch),    "  Cambrensis    Eversus, "    vol.    i., 
and  n.  i,  pp.  550,  564.     Vita  Teriia  S.  BIT-  chap,  viii.,  pp.  492,  493.     Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's 
gidre,  cap.  xcvii.,   and  n.  56,  pp.    539,  545>  edition. 

ibid.     Vita   Se.xta   S.    lirigid.v,    §   IviiL,    p.  4  See  an   account   of    this   king    and    his 

594,  and  n.  16,  p.  598,  ibid.  epoch  in  O'Flaherty's  "Ogygia,"  pars,  iii., 

CHAP,  vi.  —  1  In  the  following   historical  cap.  Ixxix,  Ixxx. ,  pp.  373  to  38^. 

resume,  we  chiefly  follow  the  chronology  of  5  During  his  reign,  it  is  said,  St.  Patrick 

the  Four  Masters  m  the  text.  was   carried   as   a   captive    into    Hibernia. 

a  He  received  this  name,  rendered  "  Cam-  See   William   M.   Hennessy's  "  Chronicum 

pormn    Amplificator,"    according    to     Dr.  Scotorum,"  pp.  14,  15- 

Charles  O'Conor,  probably  because  he  was  "Or   A.M.    5564,    according  to  the  state- 

an  extender   or   improver  of  Ian  Is.      See  ment    in   Dr.    John    Lynch's  "  Cambrensis 

"  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  E  versus,"  vol.  i. ,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  492,  493. 

ii,     Tigernacbi  Annales,  pp.  72,  73.  See  Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's  edition. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


been  married. ?  Crimhthann,8  son  ofFidhach,  a  warlike  and  an  accomplished 
prince,  succeeded  Eochaidh  Muighmeadhoin.  It  is  recorded,  that  he  made 
successful  predatory  inroads  on  the  shores  of  France,  Britain  and  Scotland, 
from  which  countries  he  obtained  tribute  and  submission,  returning  to  Ire 
land  with  hostages  and  captives. 9  After  a  reign  of  thirteen  years,10  he  is 
said  to  have  died  of  poison,  administered  by  his  own  sister,  Mongfimi.11 
Thus  she  hoped  to  obtain  the  succession  for  her  favourite  son  Brian,12  as 
Crimthaan  died  without  issue  ;  but,  in  this  expectation  she  was  disappointed, 
and  her  own  death  is  said  to  have  happened,  about  the  same  time,  A.D.  378. 
Her  step-son,  the  celebrated  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages,1^  next  came  on  the 
throne.  This  king  commenced  his  reign,  A.D.  379, 14  and  distinguished  his 
career  by  a  series  of  brilliant  and  successful  expeditions  against  the  Alba 
nians,  Britons,  Picts  and  Gauls,  from  whom  he  carried  away  valuable  spoils 
and  several  captives.  Among  the  latter,  as  generally  supposed,  was  our 
illustrious  national  saint,  at  a  subsequent  period  destined  by  Divine  Provi 
dence  to  become  the  great  apostle  of  Ireland.  It  is  said,  that  when  Niall 
arrived  in  Albyn  or  Albania,  now  Scotland,  to  assist  the  Dailriads  of  Irish 
extraction  against  the  incursions  of  the  Picts,  he  changed  the  name  of  that 
country  to  Scotia  at  their  request.  Scotland  was  thenceforward  known  as  Scotia 
Minor,  to  distinguish  it  from  Ireland,  which  was  denominated  Scotia  Major. 
The  reason  why  this  heroic  monarch  received  the  name  of  Niall  of  the  Nine 
Hostages  is  said  to  have  been  owing  to  the  circumstance  of  his  having  had 
four  noble  hostages  from  Scotland,  and  five  other  distinguished  pledges  from 
the  different  provinces  of  Ireland,  confined  at  Tara.  Yet,  accounts  are 
somewhat  discordant  as  to  the  nine  regions  from  which  these  hostages  were 
taken.  The  people  of  Leinster  are  represented  as  having  surrendered 


7  This  monarch  had  four  sons   by  his  first 
wife  Mongfimi, who wasdaughter  to  Fidhach, 
of  the  royal   family  of  Minister.      Her  sons 
were  :  I.   Bryan,   ancestor  of  the   CX Conors 
of  Connaught  and  their  kindred  ;  2.  Fiachra, 
ancestor  of  the  O'Dowdas,   O'Heynes  and 
O'Shaughnessys ;     3.    Fearghus  ;     and     4. 
Oilioll,  whose  people  were  formerly  located 
in  Tir-Oiliolla,  now  the  barony  of  Tirerrill, 
in  the  county    of    Sligo.       By   his    second 
wife,  Carinna,  a  Saxon  or  Pictish  lady,  the 
most  illustrious   of  his  sons,    Niall  of   the 
Nine  Hostages,  descended. 

8  Crimthann   ascended    the    throne    A.D. 
360,    according   to    O'Mahony's    Keating's 
"History  of  Ireland,"    book  i.,  chap,  vii., 
p.    369.         According   to    Tigernach,     his 
reign  commenced  about  A.  D.  366. 

9  To  his  predatory  excursions,  Eumenius, 
Claudian,    Ammianus  Marcellinus,    Gildas, 
and  Venerable  Bede,    allude.     Tnose  raids 
checked    the  Roman    conquests  in  Britain, 
but  they  so  harrassed  the  Britons,  that  these 
in  turn  were  induced   to   call  the  Saxons  to 
protect  them.     This  led  to  the  settlement 
of  that  warlike  race  in  England.      See  John 
D' Alton's  "  History  of  Ireland  and  Annals 
of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii. ,  pp.  55,  56. 

10  In  the  "  Chronicum   Scotorum,"  how 
ever,  it  is  said   he  only   reigned  five  years, 
and  died  A.D.  376.    See  pp.  16,  17.  Edited 
by  W.  M.  Hennessy. 

11  She  appears  to  have  been  living   at  the 
same  time  with  Eochaidh  Muigh  Mheadh- 


oin's  second  wife  ;  so  that,  she  had  either 
been  divorced  by  the  monarch,  or,  as  seems 
likely  enough,  a  plurality  of  wives  was  in 
vogue  among  some  of  the  Pagan  Irish. 

l-  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  book  i.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  371,  372. 

13  Niall  had  fourteen  sons,  eight  of  whom 
left  issue  :  viz.,    i.   Eaeghaire,   from  whom 
the    O'Coindhealbhains    or   Kendellans    of 
Ui-Laeghaire    are     descended  ;     2.   Conall 
Crimhthainne,  from   whom   the   O'Melagh- 
lins  are  derived  ;  3.   Fiacha,  the  ancestor  of 
the    MacGeoghegans    and    O'Molloys ;    4. 
Maine,  the  progenitor  of  the   O'Caharneys, 
O'Breens  and  MacGawleys,    with   their  co- 
relatives  in  Tettia.     All   these  sons  setcled 
in  Meath.     The  other  four  acquired  exten 
sive  possessions  in  Ulster,   where  they  re 
sided  :    viz.,     i.  Eoghan,    ancestor   of    the 
O'Neills  and  various  kindred  families ;  2. 
Conall  Gulban,  ancestor  of  the  O'Donnells  ; 
3.   Cairbre,    whose   posterity  dwelt   in  the 
barony  of  Carbury,  in  the  present  county  of 
Sligo,  and  in  the  barony   of  Granard  in  the 
county  of  Longford  ;  4.  Enda  Finn,  whose 
descendants    settled   in   Tir-Enda   of  Tyr- 
connell,  and  in  Kinel-Enda,  near  the  hill  of 
Uisneach,  County  Westmeath. 

14  See   Dr.   Charles    O'Conor's    "  Rerum 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  80. 
In  O'^Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of  Ire 
land,"    the   date  for  his   accession  is  A.D. 
577-     See  book  i.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  372. 


LlfE  OP  SI.  BRIGID. 


95 


Eochaidh,  son  of  Enna  Ceinnseallach,  king  of  the  province,  for  a  pledge  of 
their  allegiance.  This  prince,  however,  contrived  to  escape  from  his  guards, 
and  followed  the  King  of  Ireland  on  a  warlike  expedition.  At  the  sea, 
called  Muir-n-Icht,  between  France  and  England,  and  supposed  to  have  been 
situated  near  the  site  of  the  present  Boulogne,  the  Prince  of  Leinster  assas 
sinated  the  warlike  Xiall,  A.D.  405,  after  the  latter  monarch  had  reigned 
gloriously,  during  the  term  of  twenty-seven  years.  Other  accounts  have  it, 
that  he  was  killed  near  the  banks  of  the  Loire.  The  posterity  of  this  re 
nowned  warrior  were  known  as  the  northern  and  southern  Hy-Niall,  or 
descendants  of  Xiall.  From  this  distinguished  race,  nearly  all  the  kings  of 
Ireland  derive  their  origin  down  to  the  twelfth  century. '5  Dathi,  grandson 
of  the  former  monarch  of  Ireland,  Eochaidh  Muighmheadhoin,  succeeded. 
This  prince  was  remarkable  for  activity  of  body  and  a  spirit  of  military  ad 
venture.  He  pushed  his  conquests  with  great  success  in  the  territories  of 
France,  where  he  was  at  length  killed  by  a  stroke  of  lightning  at  the  Alps. 
His  body  was  carried  home  to  Ireland,  and  interred  with  military  honours  at 
.Rathcroghan,  where  his  grave  was  marked  by  a  red  pillar-stone,  according  to 
the  accounts  contained  in  some  old  and  trustworthy  records.16  Dathi  closed 
his  reign  of  twenty-three  years,  A.D.  428.  He  was  immediately  succeeded 
by  the  last  king  who  ruled  over  Pagan  Ireland,  Leaghaire,1?  son  to  Xiall,  the 
hero  of  the  Xine  Hostages.  During  his  reign,  the  illustrious  St.  Patrick 
preached  the  Gospel  in  Ireland,'6  and  it  is  probable,  also,  St.  Brigid  first  saw 
the  light.  This  monarch's  chief  engagements  were  fought  with  the  people 
of  Leinster. '5  When  a  reign  of  thirty  years  had  been  completed,  Leaghaire, 
who  does  not  appear  to  have  embraced  the  Christian  religion,  died,  A.D. 
458. 20  He  was  succeeded  by  Oilioll  Molt,21  son  of  Dathi.  After  a  dis 
turbed  reign  of  twenty  years,  during  which  he  contended  with  the  Leinster- 
men,  Oilioil  was  slain  at  the  battle  ot  Ocha,  in  Meath,  A.D.  478,  by  Lughaidh, 
son  of  Leaghaire,  who  succeeded.22  It  does  not  seem  to  be  well  established 
that  even  this  monarch  had  been  a  believer  in  the  sublime  truths  of 


15  A  very  complete  account  of  this  mon-  the  Clarendon  MSS.,  No.  4795,  Bibl.  Harl., 
arch,  and  of  the  incidents  during  his  reign,  it  is  staled,  that  the  illustrious  future  mis- 
will    be    found    in    O'.Mahony's    Keating's  sionary   arrived   in    Ireland   in    the    twelfth 
"  History  of  Ireland,'1  book  i.,   chap,   vii.,  year  of  this  king's  reign.     See  ibid.t  tomus 
PP-  372  to  394.  iv.,  p.  i. 

16  See   an    illustration   of   the   "Pillar    of  ">  Dr.  Charles  O'Conor,  who  supplies  the 
Dathi,  Rathcroghan,"  with  a  description  of  hiatus   in  the    "Annals   of    Tighernach," 
Relig-na-ree,  as  also    a    ground  plan  of  the  assigns  to  A.D.  452  a  great  battle  fought  by 
tumuli  there,  in  "  Proceedings  ofthe  Royal  King    Laogaire   against    the    Leinstermen. 
Irish  Academy, "  vol.  i.,  series  ii.  ;  a  paper,  See  ibid.,  tonius  ii.,  p.  109. 

by  Samuel  Ferguson,  LL.D.,  "  On  Ancient  20  Yet  the   "  Annales  Buellani,"  or  "  An- 

Cemeteries  at    Rathcroghan   and  elsewhere  rials  of  Boyle,"  state  that,    at   A.D.    460,   a 

in  Ireland,"   read  February  26,    1872,  pp.  fierce  war  was  waged  by  Laegare  Mac  Neill, 

11410118.  and  again   at  A.D.  465,  that    the    Leinster- 

17  In  John  D' Alton's  "  History  of  Ireland  men  fought  against  him  at  Atha-dara  or  the 
and   the  Annals   of  Boyle,"  vol.    ii.,    King  "  ford  of  the  oaks,"  in  which    the  monarch 
Leogaire  is  slated   to  have  begun  his  reign  was  made  a    prisoner,    but   afterwards  ran- 
A.D.  426  and   to    have   ended   it    A.D.  470,  somed,  he  swearing  by  the  sun  and  wind, 
thus  giving  him  a  rule  of  44  years.     See  pp.  that  he  should  send  them  a  number  of  oxen. 
64>  69.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum   Hibernicarum 

18  The    "Annales     Inisfalenses,"    edited  Scriptores, "  tomus  ii.,  p.  2. 

from  the  Bodleian  MS.  Rawlinson,  No.  503,  2I  His  accession  to  the  throne  is  placed  at 

state,  that  St.  Patrick  commenced   his  mis-  A.D.  457    in   O'Mahony's    Keating's  "  His- 

sion  A.D.  ccccxxxil.,  in  the  fourth  year  of  tory  ol  Ireland,"   book    i.,    chap,    vii.,   p. 

King  Leagaremeicc  A'eill's  reign.      See    Dr.  418. 

Charles  O'Conor's  "Rerum   Hibernicarum  2-  The  date  given  for  this  event  is  A.D. 

Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p,  i.     In  an  addition  477  by  Keating.     See  ibid.,  p.  420.     The 

to  the  "  Annales  Ultonienses,  '  found  among  Four  Masters  have  A.D.  479. 


96 


LIFE  Of  ST.  BR1GID. 


Christianity.^  Some  battles  arc  on  record  during  the  rule  of  this  king,  who 
was  killed 'by  a  flash  of  lightning,  A.D.  503,  after  holding  the  sovereignty  of 
Ireland  for  twenty-five  years.24 

During  the  course  of  these  foregoing  public  events,  Enna  or  Endeus 
Kinnselach,  descended  from  Catheir  Mor,25  had  founded  the  tribe  and 
district  of  Ui-Kinnselach,  in  South  Leinster,  to  which  he  gave  name.26  _  After 
the  father's  death,  his  son  Crimthann  took  possession  of  this  inheritance, 
and  afterwards,  it  is  thought,  he  was  king  over  the  whole  of  Leinster.  This 
warrior  dynast2?  joined  in  a  confederacy  with  Lugaid28  son  to  the  monarch 
Leaghaire,  Fiachra,  Muircheartach  Mac  Earca,  and  Fearghus  Cerbhell.  The 
Leinstermen  were  led  by  Crimthann,  and  the  Dal-Araidhe2?  by  their  Dynast 
Fiachra.  Different  versions  of  their  proceedings  are  given  ;  however,  it  is 
generally  allowed,  that  the  supreme  monarch,  Uilioll  Molt,  either  gave  or 
was  obliged  to  accept  battle  at  Ocha,  which  is  said  to  have  been  near  The- 
moria  or  Tara.  This  celebrated  engagement  took  place,  according  to  some 
accounts,  A.D.  478,3°  while  others  defer  it  to  A.D.  48231  Or  483. 32  Crimthann 


a3  "The  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  tell 
us  that  St.  1'atrick  died,  A.D.  493,  in  the 
fifteenth  year  of  Lughaidh's  reign,  and  that 
he  was  buried  at  Down.  See  Dr.  O'Dono- 
van's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  154  to  159,  with 
accompanying  notes. 

24  See  the  Author's   "Catechism  of  Irish 
History,"    Lesson    v.,    pp.    33   to    37,    and 
Lesson  vi.,  pp.  39  to  42. 

25  Gilla-mo-duaius,   a  historical   writer  of 
deserved  authority,  says,    that    none  of  the 
Leinster   kings,    after    Cathair  More,    were 
enumerated  among   the  monarchs  over  Ire 
land.     Gilla-mo-dudius  wrote   an  esteemed 
tract, ''OntheChrisiianMonarchsof  Ireland," 
extending  from  A.D.  431  to  A. U.  1 143,  where 
his  history  ends.      In    the   "  Journal  of  the 
Royal   Historical  and  Archa:ological  Asso 
ciation  of  Ireland,"  there  is   an   interesting 
tract,  translated  and  edited  by  J.   O'Beirne 
Crowe,  A.B.,  and  No.  ii.  among  his  series, 
"Ancient  Lake  Legenus  of  Ireland."     It  is 
intituled:   "The    \  isioh   of  ^   mhair    Mor, 
King  of  Leinster,  and  aftervvai  ds  Monarch 
of  Ireland,    foreboding    the  origin    of  Loch 
Carman  (Wexford    Haven)."     See    vol.    ii. 
Fourth  Series,  .No.  9,  pp.  26  to  49.     This  is 
edited  from  three  dnierent  copies,  taken  re 
spectively   from    the    Books    of     Leinster, 
Lecan  and  Ballymote. 

-u  See  the  Genealogies,  which  form  Part 
iii.  of  O'Mahouy's  Keaiing's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  chap,  x.,  pp.  693  to  697. 

-7  There  was  a  "  Catalogue  ct  the  Kings 
of  Ireland,"  by  an  anonymous  author,  to  be 
found  in  U'Malchonrian  s  book.  This  was 
in  Colgan's  possession,  and  it  thus  gives  the 
names  of  Uilill's  three  principal  opponents, 
without  making  mention  oi  Crimthann  or 
Lugad.  It  states,  that  after  Ulild  Molt, 
King  of  Ireland,  and  the  son  of  Dathy,  son 
to  1-iach,  sou  of  Lochaid  Macmeadon,  had 
reigned  twenty  years,  he  was  ki.led  by 
Murchertach,  Fergus  Kerrbheoil,  and  by 
Fiach  Lonn,  the  son  of  Caelbad,  King  of 


Dalaradia.  In  the  Acts  of  St.  Kieran,  how 
ever,  this  victory  is  attributed  to  Crimthann. 
See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hibernian," 
v.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap.  xix.,  p. 
460. 

~*  Gilla-mo-dudius  ascribes  this  victory 
and  carnage  to  Lugad,  son  to  Laogaire,  the 
immediate  successor  of  Oiiill  in  the  sove 
reignty  of  Ireland. 

'-•>  "  St.  Beg  mac  De"  or  "  Beccus,  son  of 
Pea,"  a  celebrated  Irish  prophet,  died  in  the 
year  557.  In  a  certain  iragment  of  a  work 
he  wrote,  "  On  the  Kings  of  Ireland,"  and 
which  is  cited  in  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  at  A.D.  478,  regarding  this  battle, 
the  English  translation  runs  :-  — 

"  The  great  battle  of  Ocha  was  fought 
In  which  many  battalions  were  cut  off, 
Against  Oiliolt  Molt,  son  of  Nathi, 
\\  ho  was  defeated  by  the  Dal-Araide." 

See  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i.,   pp.    150, 

151,  and  n.  (l),  ibid. 

30 See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Foar  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  148  to  151,  with 
accompanying  notes.  1  he  ''  Annales  Inis- 
falenses"  place  it  at  tins  year.  See  Dr. 
Charles  O  Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum 
Scnptores,"  tomus  ii.,  pp.  3,  4. 

31  In  the   "  Annales  Lhtoiuenses, "  at  A.D. 
482,  the    battle   of  Oclia  is  piaced,    and  in 
the  loliowingyear  483  we   have  an  account 
ol  the  "  jugulatio"  or  murder  o!  Crimthainn, 
son  of  Lima    Censelach,  son  to  Uresul  Belac, 
King  of  Leinster.    But,  as  it  doubifui  regard 
ing  the  date  for  both  events,  it   is   again 
stated, after  noting  the  first  war  atGranearad, 
at    A.D.    485,    that    it    was    probably   there 
Crimthann  received  his  death-wound,     bee 
ibid.,  tomus  iv.,  p.  7. 

32  Ussher   places  it    at    this    year.     See 
"  Britannicarum  Lcclesiarum  Antiquitates," 
cap.  xvii.,  p.  490,  and  at  "  Index  Chronolo- 
gicL!S,"A.D.  CCCCLXXXIII. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B  RIGID. 


97 


is  related  to  have  killed  Oilioll  Molt  in  this  battle.33  Moreover,  in  the 
Acts  of  St.  Kieran,34  it  would  appear  to  be  stated,  that  this  Crinnhann  ob 
tained  supreme  sovereignty  over  the  country  after  the  light  of  Ocha.35 
Doubtless,  his  power  was  great,  and  his  inlluence  was  respected  by  the 
supreme  monarch  who  succeeded  ;  but,  Crimthann  himself  does  not  seem  to 
have  aspired  to  the  sovereignty  oi  Ireland.  He  survived  this  battle  of 
Ocha,  as  we  might  infer,  only  one  year  ;  for,  it  is  said,  he  received  a  mortal 
wound  in  the  battle  of  (inmaird,  fought  in  the  year  478,^  yet,  most  strangely, 
the  verv  same  authority  deters  his  death  to  480.3?  Perhaps,  he  was  instru 
mental  in  aiding  St.  Urigid  to  found  her  nunnery  and  church  at  Kildare, 
while  he  was  chief  ruler  over  the  Lemper  province. 33  His  daughter  Ethnea, 
surnamed  Huathadi,  -' is  said  to  have  been  married  to  the  religious  ^L'ngus, 
Prince  of  Minister,  who  had  been  baptized  by  St.  Patrick. 

W  hen  the  illustrious  lady  reached  the  Leinster  province,  its  chiefs  and 
people  welcomed  her  with  the  liveliest  demonstrations  of  respect  and  re 
joicing.  She  sought  a  spot,  but  slightly  elevated  over  the  surrounding  ex 
tensive  "  plain  of  the  Liliy.r-»°  There  the  ground  was  gently  undulating  and 
fertile;  and,  it  is  said  to  have  been  anciently  styled,  Druim  Criadh,  or  "the 
ridge  of  clay."-*1  At  this  time,  a  large  oak  tree— a  favourite  with  our  saint, 
and  blessed  by  her — grew  upon  the  spot.  Its  branches  spread  around,  and 
it  must  have  been  a  remarkable  natural  feature  of  the  landscape.*2  This 


33  This  is  stated,  in  the  (..Id  historical  tract, 
called  "  Borumha-Laighean."  Jt  must  he 
observed,  also,  that  as  Cnmthami  \v .is  pre 
sent  at  Delia  hattle,  the  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters''  lull  into  an  error,  when  they 
state  under  A.  I).  405.  that  Crimthann,  son 
of  Enda-Censelaeh,  King  of  Lehistcr,  \\as 
killed  by  the  son  of  his  own  daughter,  i.e., 
Eochaidh  Ciuineach,  [one]  of"  the  t'i- 
Bairrche."  Again,  "The  Annals  of  Clon- 
macnoise''  record,  that  Crimthann  waskil.ed 
at  the  battle  of  Ard-corran.  Vet  the  "  An- 
nales  Inisfalenses"  place  his  death  at  A.D. 
CCCCI.XXX.,  and  afterwards  note  the  "  Del- 
luni  Ardacoraind"  at  ccccxcvu.  See  Or. 
Charles  D'Conor's  "  Keium  ilibernicarum 
Scriptores,"  tonuis  ii.,  pp.  4,  5.  Again,  the 
"Annals  of  Ulster"  place  the  battle  oi  Arda 
Corann  or  Mount  Corann,  and  the  death  of 
Lugdach,  son  of  Laegaire,  at  A.D.  500  or 
507.  See  z<W.,  tomus  iv.,  p.  u. 

>4  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber 
nian,"  v.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap.  xix., 
p.  460. 

33Dubtach  O'Luguir,  a  disciple  of  St. 
Patrick,  who  is  said  to  have  been  present, 
and  an  eye-witness  of  this  battle,  in  a  little 
work,  which  he  wrote  on  the  Acts  of  this 
same  Crimthann.  and  which  Colgan  had  in 
his  possession,  beais  similar  testimony. 

3*  According  to  the"  Annals  of  Inisfallen," 
which,  strangely  enough,  make  two  kings 
of  Leinster  (all  in  this  battle.  Due  is  named 
Finchad,  and  the  other  Crimthann  Censelach, 
who  killed  Echad,  ana  received  himself  a 
mortal  wound.  Perhaps,  the  meaning  is, 
that  both  were  kings  or  dynasts  in  Leinster  ; 
or  that  their  supreme  power  alternated  at 
different  times.  Some  writers  state,  accord 
ing  to  the  same  authority,  that  Meicc  Eircc 


was  victor  in  this  battle,  while  others  have 
Coirprc  as  victor.  See  Or.  D'Conor's  "  Re- 
rum  Ilibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii., 
p.  4. 

>:  Sec  il>iJ.  Perhaps  he  lingered  on  for 
two  years  after  being  wounded. 

Ja  Ihis  Crimthann,  who  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  Delia,  in  A.D.  478,  or  accord 
ing  to  other  accounts  in  the  years  482  or 
4\i>  might  have  been  buried  at  or  in  Kil 
dare  Monastery,  which  is  supposed  to  have 
been  lounded  about,  if  notbelore,  such  era. 
And  this  passage  also  strengthens  the  proof 
that  Crimthann  was  not  killed  in  A.D.  465. 
See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  nn. 
&•  9,  10,  p.  565.  Likewise,  D'Oonovan's 
''  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
146,  147,  n.  (r),  ibid:  And  pp.  148  to  151, 
nn.  (d,  e,  f),  ibid. 

JySee  Colgan's  "Acta  Sanctorum  Iliber- 
nia;,"  v.  Martii.  Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap.  xix., 
p.  460. 

4-ln  Irish  called,  tTUg  Lipln.  The  river 
flows  through  a  level  country  in  Kildare. 

1  See  "  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,"  vol.  ix.,  First  Series.  W.  M. 
Hennessy's  paper  "On  the  Curragh  of  Kil 
dare,"  p.  340,. 

4-  In  one  of  his  many  fictions,  Dempster 
asserts,  that  Kildare  derived  its  name  from 
a  St.  Dana,  the  mother  of  St.  Ursula,  who 
brought  certain  relics  to  Ireland.  See 
"  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  Scotorum, '' 
lib.  iv.  Colgan  remarks,  that  before  Demp 
ster's  time,  no  writer  ever  asserted  these 
relics  were  brought  to  Ireland,  or  that  Kil 
dare  derived  its  name  from  them.  See 
"Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  Vita  S.  Bri- 
gidae,  n.  23,  p.  543. 


H 


9s 


LII'E  0£  ST.  BRIGID. 


site — now  very  much  denuded  of  oak-*3 — was  chosen  by  St.  Brigid  for  her 
projected  conventual  establishment.  The  local  proprietor  of  this  soil  and 
people  living  in  the  neighbourhood  soon  helped  to  provide  a  habitation  for 
their  future  patroness  and  for  her  religious  sisters.  It  has  been  asserted,  the 
first  church  built  there  was  constructed  with  wattles  ;44  and,  owing  to  the 
circumstance  of  its  having  nestled  under  or  near  the  large  spreading  tree,  it 
got  the  name  Kildare,45  or  "  the  cell  of  the  oak."46  When  the  author  of  St. 
Brigid's  Fourth  Life  lived,  the  roots,  or  part  of  the  trunk,  belonging  to  this 
venerable  tree,  remained.47  The  adjoining  plain  of  the  Curragh  is  tradi 
tionally  held  to  have  been  St.  Brigid's  pasture  ground,48  to  which  she  never 
prevented  the  neighbouring  people  from  sending  their  cattle. w  This  is 
thought  to  have  been  the  origin  of  what  still  constitutes  the  popular  right  of 
commonage.  Various  legendary  stones  connect  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns 
with  its  former  proprietorship  ;  while,  these  are  stated  to  have  been  engaged 
in  the  pastoral  occupation  of  tending  herds  and  flocks  on  its  plains.  Portions 
of  the  surface  had  probably  been  subjected  to  tillage,  and  this  tract  of  land 
afforded  means  for  enabling  the  community  to  procure  a  subsistence.50  The 
Round  Tower  at  Kildare  and  the  adjoining  ruins  probably  represent  the 
exact  site  of  St.  Brigid's  early  conventual  establishment  and  of  the  church 
connected  with  it.  The  round  tower  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  its  class,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  highly  ornamented  in 
Ireland.51  The  castellated  top  of  the  tower  is  modern.  It  is  said  there  are 
sundry  vestiges  of  ancient  work  about  the  site  of  Kildare,  but  that  these  are 
so  incorporated  with  the  buildings  of  Christian  times,  it  is  now  difficult  to 
distinguish  them.52  At  what  particular  period  St.  Brigid's  establishment  was 


43  In  Miss  Harriet  Martineau's   "Letters 
from  Ireland,"  the  intelligent   authoress,  la 
menting  the  want  of  wood  cultivation  in  the 
island,  alludes   to  the   fine  oaks,    elms,  ash 
and  beech,  on  the  properties  of  Lord  Downes 
and  of  the  Duke  of  Leinster,  in  the  great 
plain   of  Kildare.       See   Letter   vii.      How 
Ireland  is  to  get  back  its  woods,  p.  51.   Lon 
don  :    1852.      8vo. 

44  In  Professor   O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  pp.  33,  34,  it  is  said,  that  while 
one   hundred  horse-load   of  wattles    passed 
through    Kildare,    when    Bishop   Mel    and 
Brigid   were    there,     she    sent    four  of  her 
virgins   to   ask   those   wattles  as  a  gift  from 
Ailill,   son  of   Dunlaing.      These   he    gave 
her,  and  it  was  of  them  the  great  house  of 
Sancta  Brigida  in  Kildare  was  made. 

45  The  derivation    of    Kildare    eounty    is 
from    Chille-dara   or  "  the    wood  of  oaks," 
according  to  Thomas  James  Rawson's  "  Sta 
tistical  Survey  of  the  County  of  Kildare,"  In 
troduction,  p.   i.      He  contends,  it  was  an 
ciently  called    Cae'lan  or  Galen,  i.e.,    "the 
woody  country,"  being  formerly  almost  one 
continuous    wood,    "  the    decay    of    which 
produced   the  great   extent  of  bogs,  which 
cover  so  much  of  the  country  at  this  day, 
and  by   the  quantity  of  timber,  with  which 
they   abound,  bear  incontestable    marks  of 
their  origin."     See  ibid.,  p.  ii. 

45  "  The  very  oak  under  which  she  de 
lighted  to  pray  has  given  a  name  to  the 
place."  "Watkmson's  "  Survey  of  the  South 
of  Ireland,"  Letter  ix. ,  p.  92. 


4?  The  same  writer  tells  us,  such  was  the 
veneration  in  which  it  was  held,  that  no  one 
dared  to  cut  it  with  an  iron  instrument,  al 
though  many  persons  were  accustomed  to 
remove  portions  of  it  with  their  hands. 
These  portions,  however,  were  preserved  as 
relics.  And,  owing  to  St.  Brigid's  blessing 
it  pleased  the  Almighty  to  accomplish  mi 
racles,  through  the  possession  of  these  lig 
neous  souvenirs.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga."  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  lib.  ii., 
cap.  iii.,  p.  550. 

<8  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  she  is  represented  as  being  with 
her  sheep,  on  the  occasion  when  Neinidh 
was  first  introduced  to  her  notice,  pp.  31, 
32,  and  again  as  herding  her  sheep,  when  a 
thief  stole  seven  of  them  from  her,  pp.  41,42. 

4»  See  an  interesting  paper  on  "  The  Cur 
ragh  of  Kildare,"  by  William  M.  Hennessy, 
M.R.I.  A.,  read  February  26th,  1866,  before 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy.  "Proceedings 
of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  vol.  ix.,  First 
Series,  pp.  343  to  355. 

s°  This  statement  is  inferred,  from  the 
circumstance  of  her  employing  reapers,  and 
tending  sheep.  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ec 
clesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 
chap,  viii.,  §  x.,  and  nn.  120,  124,  pp.  406, 
408. 

51 A  representation  of  its  door- way  is 
given  in  Marcus  Keane's  "Towers  and 
Temples  of  Ancient  Ireland,"  p.  257. 

52  "  An  ancient  cross  stands  in  the  church 
yard,  and  fragments  of  a  second  ;  but,  they 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  99 

founded  there,  has  furnished  a  subject  for  discordant  opinions."  From  what 
has  been  already  stated,  it  would  seem  to  be  not  altogether  improbable,  that 
it  had  an  earlier  origin,  than  most  historians  have  very  generally  assumed. 
She  may  have  commenced  her  buildings  not  very  many  years  after  A.D.  470. 
Sir  James  Ware**  and  Harris,"  (J'Halloraiv*  and  Haverty??  refer  the  founda 
tion  of  her  nunnery  at  Kildure  to  about  the  year  480.  If  we  are  to  credit 
what  appears  to  lie  a  purely  legendary  account,  when  St.  Brigid  brought 
Bishop  Mel  with  her  to  draw  out  the  plan  of  her  city,  Ailill,  son  of  Dun- 
laing,  was  king  over  Leinstcr.  It  is  also  stated,  that  he  fed  the  builders  and 
paid  their  rightful  wages.  58  Colgan  was  of  opinion,  that  her  convent  might  have 
been  before  or  about  the  year  483.  Archdall  writes,  that  her  nunnery  was 
founded  here  before  A.D.  484.5;  About  the  latter  year,  John  D' Alton  states,60 
St.  Brigid  founded  both  the  nunnery  and  monastery  at  Kildarc.  However, 
the  first  institute  had  undoubtedly  the  precedence  of  several  years  over  the 
latter  establishment.  The  year  484  is  the  date  given  for  St.  Brigid's  establish 
ment  at  Kildare,  by  William  M.  Hennessy,61  and  by  Thomas  James  Rawson.62 
Dr.  Lanigan  assigns  it  to  about  A.D.  487,^  or  at  least  to  before  the  year 
490.c+  He  says,  that  if  we  are  to  believe  what  is  said  about  St.  Brigid  having 
foretold  to  llland,  King  of  North  Leinster,65  that  he  should  be  victorious  in 
his  battles,  one  of  which  was  that  in  which  Aengus,  King  of  Cashel,  was 
killed,  the  house  at  Kildare  must  have  been  established  before  A.D.  490. 
For,  she  is  spoken  of  as  already  settled  there,  and  that  was  the  year  in  which 
Aengus  fell. 

The  nunnery  of  Kildarc,  at  first  humble  in  si/.e  and  pretensions,66  and 
poorly  endowed,  in  a  great  measure  had  been  supported  by  eleemosynary 
contributions,  brought  by  people  living  in  the  neighbourhood.  But,  by 
degrees,  its  reputation  and  the  fame  of  its  holy  foundress  became  better 
established.  Many  pious  ladies  desired  admission  to  this  house,  which,  in  a. 
short  time,  became  inconveniently  crowded.0?  Soon  there  was  a  need  for 


arc  not  very  interesting  specimens."— //;/./.,  Lewis,  precedes  this  account  of  Kildare  by 

!'•  421.  Mr.  1)' Alton. 

"Trias    Thaumaturga,"    Quarta  6l  See  "  Proceedings  of  the    Royal    Irish 

VitaS.  Brigida%  n.  10,  p.  565.  Academy,"   vol.    ix.     First   Series.     Paper 

*  Sec  Ware,  "  I)e  Hibernia,  et  Antiquita-  "  On  the  (Jurragh  of  Kildare,"  p.  349. 

tibusejus,  Disquisitiones,"  cap.  xxvi.,  p.  146.  <".See  "  Statistical  Survey  of  the   County 

"  See   II arris'  \\are,    vol.  ii.,    "  Amiqui-  of  Kildare,"  Introduction,  p.  x. 

ties   of  Ireland,"    chap,    xxxviii.,    p.    209.  63  This  is  inferred  by  him,  considering  that 

There  our   saint    is  ranked  among   the   ca-  she    had   been   in    Minister,  probably  about 

nonesses  of  St.  Augustine's  order.  the  year  484,  and  had  spent  some  time  after- 

'  St.  Bridget  founded  her  famous  mo-  wards    in    Connaught,    before    she  founded 

nastery  in  Kildare,  A.  u.  480,  for  which  she  Kildare. 

formed  particular  rules,  and  which  was  the  °4  See  "  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland," 

head   of  her   order." — O'Halloran's    "  Ge-  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  x.,  p.  405. 

neral  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  chap,  vi.,  ^  See  n.  116,  p.  407,  ibid. 

P-  45;  66  Dr.    Lanigan  justly  observes,    that  in 

^  See  "  The  History  of  Ireland,  Ancient  the  Fourth  Lile  of  our  saint,  book  ii.,  chap, 

and  Modern,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  79.  3,    a    distinction    is  made  between  the  first 

5  ^Ihus  runs  the  story  in  Professor  O'Loo-  cell,  which   had  been  assigned   her,  imme- 

ney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.    As  a  reward  diately  on  arriving  at  Kildare,  and  the  great 

the  holy  abbess  said  the  race  of  Ailill,  son  monastery,  which    she    afterwards  found  it 

of  Dunlaing,    should   have   the  sovereignty  necessary  to  build,  in  the  same  place.      See 

for  ever."— pp.  33,  34.  «.  Lcclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i., 

»  See  "  Monasticon  Hibernicum,"  p.  323.  chap,  viii.,  sec.  x.,  and  n.  126,  pp.  406,  408. 

60  See   his    article    in  "  The  Irish   Penny  6'~  See  the  statement  regarding  a  vast  num- 

Magazme,"    vol.    i.,   No.  35.     Illustrations  ber  of  her  spiritual  daughters  contained  in 

of  Irish  Topography,  No.  xxxv.,  p.  274.  A  Father  Hugh  Ward's  "  Dissertatio  Historica 

spirited    wood    engraving    of   the    Round  de    Patria   S.    Rumoldi,"  sec.    10,  p.    186. 

Tower  and  Priory,  from  a  sketch  by  F.  R.  Edited  by  Father  Thomas  O'Sheerin,  O.S.F, 


ICo  LITE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


enlarging  the  original  buildings.63     This  concourse  of  devout  women  was 
not  confined  to  our  saint's  native  province  ;  but,   as  has  been  remarked,6^ 
persons  of  both  sexes  came  in  great  numbers,  from  all  the  provinces  of  _  Ire 
land  to  her  monastery.?0     To  those   strangers   arriving  on   temporary  visits, 
she  was  accustomed  to  exercise  the  most  liberal  hospitality  ;  especially  to 
wards   church   dignitaries   and   religious,   who  came   to   confer  with  her  on 
matters  of  religious  concern.     Numbers  of  persons,   in  the  higher  walks  of 
life,  sought  her  advice,  and  felt  honoured   by   her  notice.     These  individuals 
never  applied  for  the  favour  of  her  prayers,   without  obtaining  a  compliance 
with  their  requests.      Having,   in  due  course   of  time   laid  foundations  for  a 
large  monastery,  she  proceeded  with   the   work   of  its  erection  ;  in  which  ui> 
clertaking,  we  may  suppose,  she  met  the  willing  co-operation  and  assistance  ot 
the  Leinster    king  and   neighbouring   people,   who    loved   and  revered  this 
noble  virgin  for  her  extraordinary  virtues  and  merits.     When  completed,  this 
cocnobnim  furnished  accommodation  to   several   pious   females,   living  under 
her  rule.     Afterwards,  it  became  the  parent  nunnery  of  many  houses,  already 
established    by   her,   and   subsequently    built   throughout   our  island.?1     It 
would  seem,  that  soon  after  the   erection  of  her  first  monastery  at  Kildare, 
Crimthann,  King  of  Leinster,  died,  and  obtained  the  rites  of  sepulture  in  or 
near  it.?2 

Numbers  of  infirm  and  poor  flocked  to  Kildare,  seeking  relief  from  their 
various  necessities  ;  and  many  anecdotes  are  related,  regarding  the  charities 
of  St.  Brigid,  especially  towards  this  forlorn  class  of  persons.  With  the  course 
of  time,  several  houses  began  to  appear  around  her  religious  establishment, 
as  it  became  necessary  to  provide  for  the  necessities  of  those,  who  came  from 
a  distance,  or,  who  were  brought  from  more  immediate  districts,  to  assist  at 
the  pious  exercises  and  public  celebrations  of  her  conventual  institute.  By 
degrees,  from  being  merely  a  village,  Kildare  became  a  very  considerable 
town ;  and,  at  length,  its  habitations  extended  in  number  and  size,  so  that  it 
ranked  as  a  city,  at  a  period  somewhat  later.?3  St.  Brigid  traced  out  a  line 
of  demarkation,  likewise,  around  the  city,  within  which  boundary  refuge  was 
to  be  obtained,  by  any  fugitive  ;  and,  his  claim  to  protection  was  consequently 
allowed,  by  all  those,  who  respected  the  ordinances  and  memory  of  their  illus- 

68  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "  Lives  of  that  she  was  called  Hibernice  Domina,  as  we 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  1st,  p.  17.  find  her  styled  in    the   Fifth  Life  (cap.  iii.) 

6»  By  Cogitosus.  And  in  the  Rythm    of  St.    Columba,  com- 

7°  Le  Comte  de   Montalembert  observes,  posed  in  praise  of  her,  she  is  called  Regma. 

"  D'innombrables  couvents  de  femmes  font  See    "Trias  Thaumaturga."      Anagraphse 

remonter   leur  or.gine   a   1'abbesse  de  Kil-  seu    Epilogus  Magnalium  Sancta;  Brigida.', 

dare." — "Les  Moines  d'Occident,"  tome  ii.,  sec.  xlvii.,  p.  639. 

liv.  ix.,  chap,  i.,  p.  463.  ?2  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga," 

7'  Such   had    been   the   reputation  of  St.  Quarta  Vita  S.   Brigida;.     "  Ft   ipse  mori- 

Brigid  for  eminent  sanctity,    that  Abbot  Jo-  ens  sepultus    est   apud    S.    Brigidam   in  suo 

annes    de    Bruxella    or    Mauburnus  Livria-  monasterio,"  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xii.,p.  552.   Such 

cenis,    in  "  Venatorio  Canonicorum   Regu-  is  the  statement  of  the  author — supposed  to 

larium,"    tells   us,  that  a   great   number  of  be  Animosus — and  he  was  well  acquainted 

monasteries,  and   about   thirteen  thousand  with  the  topography,   history  and  traditions 

nuns, flourished  underthisholy  superior'srule.  of  Kildare. 

So  likewise,  Benedictus  Haeftenus  cites  this  73  "The  reputation  of  her  sanctity,  and  of 

authority,     "  Disquisition.   Monasticarum,"  her  power  of  working  miracles,  made  Kil- 

lib.  i.,  tract  6,  disqu.  3.     Colgan  thinks  we  dare   so  much  frequented,   that   the   many 

must  here  understand,  that  if  our  saint  pre-  buildings  erected  about  the  nunnery,  during 

sided  over  so  many  nuns,  she  must  have  go-  her  life  formed  a  town  ;  which   in  time  be- 

verned  them,  not  in  one  house,  but    in  dif-  came    so    considerable    as    to  be  the  place 

ferent  monasteries,   spread    throughout  Ire-  of  the  Cathedral  and  of  the  Episcopal  See." 

land,  she   being  superior   over  all  that  ob-  — Warner's  "  Flistory  of  Ireland,"  vol.   i., 

served  the  Rule,  which  she  is  said  to  have  book  vii.,  p.  321. 
written.     Hence,  it  must  have  happened, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  101 


trious  civic  foundress.74  It  is  also  remarked,  that  Kildare  was  the  metropolitan 
see  of  Leinster,  at  two  different  periods.  In  the  first  instance,  while  St. 
Brigid  lived,  in  that  city  ;  yet,  afterwards  during  the  time  of  Brandubh,  King 
of  Leinster,  and  about  the  year  578,  the  archiepiscopate  is  said  to  have  been 
transferred  to  Ferns. 75  It  is  uncertain,  when  it  had  been  removed  from  the 
latter  place  ;  but,  it  is  supposed  to  be  sufficiently  established  as  a  fact,  that 
its  withdrawal  from  Ferns  did  not  occur  until  after  St.  Moling's  death,?6  in 
the  year  696.77  Again,  it  is  assumed,  that  this  dignity  had  been  restored  to 
Kildare.  before  A.D.  1097,  according  to  testimonies  derived  from  our  national 
Annals. 7s  It  has  been  inferred, 79  likewise,  that  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's 
Fourth  Life  must  have  flourished,  while  Kildare  was  a  metropolitan  see — 
not,  however,  at  the  first,  but  during  the  latter  period.  For,  he  adopts  a 
common  opinion,  that  the  bodies  of  Saints  Brigid,  Columkille  and  Patrick 
were  deposited  in  a  common  tomb,  at  Down,  in  Ulster.80 

Soon  did  the  people  living  around  her  convent  begin  to  experience  the 
protection  afforded  by  Brigid's  presence  among  them.  On  the  eve  of  a 
certain  solemnity,  while  she  lived  in  the  "Cell  of  the  Oak,'""1  a  certain  young 
maiden,  who  appears  to  have  been  her  prctc^e,  brought  an  offering  for  her 
patroness.  On  presenting  this  gift,  the  maiden  remarked,  that  she  should 
be  obliged  to  return  home  immediately,  to  take  charge  of  her  parents'  house 
and  flocks.  Her  father  and  mother  desired  to  spend  that  holy  vigil  at  Kil 
dare.  The  abbess  told  their  daughter  to  remain,  and  that  her  parents  should 
come  after  her,  while  the  Almighty  would  protect  their  temporal  substance. 
According  to  St.  Brigid's  prediction,  the  maiden's  parents  followed  her,  and 
together  all  the  family  celebrated  this  festival. Sj  However,  certain  thieves, 
taking  advantage  of  their  absence,  came  in  the  middle  of  the  night  and  stole 
away  their  cattle.  These  they  drove  towards  the  Liffey.  This  river  was 
found  to  have  been  so  greatly  swollen,  that  the  water  flowed  over  its  banks. 
The  robbers  laboured  in  vain,  during  a  great  part  of  the  night,  to  urge  the 
terrified  cattle  through  this  flood.  Then,  taking  off  their  garments,  which 
with  other  effects  they  tied  with  cords  to  the  horns  of  the  cattle,  those  free- 


74  See  Cogitosus,  "  Vita  S.  Brigidffi,"  cap.  Mac-an-tsaeir  Ua  Brolchain,a1earned  doctor, 

xiv.  Bishop  of  Kildare  and  of  Leinster,  tiled. 

73  For  such  statements,  Colgan  refers  to  And,  at  the  year  1 1 10,  departed  "Feardom- 

Cogitosus,  in  his  1'iologue  to  the  Life  of  St.  hnaeh,  the  most  distinguished  of  the  senior 

Brigid  ;  also  to  chap.  30  of  the  same  Life  ;  jurisconsults,  [and]  lector  of  Cill  clara." 

and  to  his  own  affixed  notes  I,  18  ;  to  Ussher  See  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 

in  his  "  1'rimonlia  Ecclcsiarum  Briianni-  Masters,1'  vol.  ii.,  pp.  954,  955,  9&S,  9&9- 

carum,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  965  ;  and  to  the  This  latter  appears  to  have  been  successor 

author  of  bt.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life,  lib.  ii.,  to  the  former  in  the  see  of  Kildare  ;  for,  in 

cap.  3.  Ussher's  "  Yeterum  Epistolarum  Hiberni- 

"''•'  It  appears,  from  the  Life  of  St.  Moling,  c.mim  Sylloge, "  epist.  34.  we  find  the  name 

whose  festival  occurs  at  the  ijth  of  June,  Ferdomnachus  Episcopus  Lageniensium 

that  this  saint  had  been  constituted  Arch-  subscribed  to  an  epistle,  written  by  the 

bishop  of  Leinster,  in  the  see  of  Ferns,  by  people  of  \\aterford  to  Anslem,  Archbishop 

Brandubh,  son  of  Eathach,  King  of  Leinster.  of  Canterbury.  See  pp.  91  1093. 

77  According  to  the  "  .'.:/.ials  of  the  Four  7''  liy  Colgnn. 

Masters,"    St.     Maedhog,    first    bishop     of  8j  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga." 

Ferns,  died  A.D.  624  ;  St.  Dachu   Luachra,  Vita  Cjuarta   S.  Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxx., 

Abbot  of  Ferns,  died   A.D.   652;   Tuenog,  xcix.,  pp.    554,   562,  563,   and   nn.    13,    14, 

Abbot   of   Ferns,    died   662  ;    Maeldoghar,  pp.  565,  566,  ibid. 

Bishop  of  Ferns,  died  676  ;  Diraith,  Bishop  8l  This  is  the  English  nomenclature  of  the 

of  Ferns,  died  690  ;  and  St.  Moling  Luachra,  Latinized  Kildaria,  and  Cill  Dara,  in   Irish. 

Bishop  of  Ferns,  died  696.     See    O'Dono-  Ceall  or  Kill  signifies   "a  ceil,"  and  Dara, 

van's  Edition,   vol.   i.,  pp.  246  to  249,  264,  "the   oak,"  or    its   genitive   case    "of   the 

265,    272,    273,   284,   2i>5,    294,    295,    298,  oak." 

299.  "^  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of 

78  At   1097,   we  read,   that   Maelbrighde  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  1st,  p.  19. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


hooters  intended  to  swim  across  the  river,  when  the  animals  should  be 
urged  into  its  waters.  The  cattle  directed  their  course  towards  St.  Brigid'' s 
monastery,  instead  of  that  place,  whither  it  had  been  intended  to  drive 
them.83  The  robbers  followed  after  hoping  to  secure  their  prey.  To  the 
great  confusion  of  these  thieves,  at  day-break  their  guilt  was  manifested  to 
many,  who  knew  them  personally.  They  made  an  humble  confession  of 
their  sins,  however,  in  Kildare,  at  the  instance  of  St.  Brigid.84  The  owners 
of  the  herd  drove  their  cattle  homewards,  and  thus,  according  to  our  saint's 
prophecy,  their  substance  was  preserved  ;  while  both  the  perpetrators  of  and 
sufferers  from  an  intended  injury  acknowledged  the  interposition  of  Divine 
Providence,  in  such  a  remarkable  incident.85 

Again,  on  the  eve  of  a  festival,  a  girl  brought  alms  to  St.  Brigid.  De 
livering  her  gift,  she  said,  it  would  be  necessary  to  return  towards  her  home, 
as  her  foster-father,  an  old  and  a  paralytic  man,  had  been  left  alone,  nor  had 
he  any  person  to  care  the  house  or  milk  his  cows.  Brigid  counselled  her  to 
remain  there,  however,  for  that  night.  Her  visitor  did  so,  and  returned 
home  on  the  following  day,  after  having  received  Holy  Eucharist.  The 
cows  and  calves  were  found  feeding  apart  in  the  fields,  nor  did  the  former 
seem  to  suffer  in  the  least  degree,  as  a  consequence  of  their  not  having  been 
milked.  The  old  man  acknowledged,  likewise,  that  during  the  night  his 
foster-daughter  dwelt  with  our  saint,  the  cattle  continued  to  feed  on  their 
pasturage,  while  he  remained  awake  the  whole  time  since  her  departure.86 
This  did  not  seem  to  extend  beyond  the  interval  of  a  single  hour.  It  was 
a  mystery,  only  known  to  the  Almighty,  who  had  thus  miraculously  disposed 
the  result.8? 

On  a  particular  day,  certain  insolent  and  idle  ruffians  approached  our 
saint.  _  Wearing  diabolical  badges  on  their  heads,  they  intended  the  death  of 
a  particular  person.  These  miscreants  asked — it  is  probable  in  mockery — 
a  blessing  from  Brigid,  and  she,  in  her  turn,  requested  them  to  put  away  their 
emblems.  This,  however,  they  refused  to  do.  Seeing  the  form  of  badge 
adopted,  our  pious  abbess  was  shocked  ;  nevertheless,  she  marked  them  with 
a  sign  of  the  cross,  not  for  the  purpose  of  blessing  them,  but  to  counteract 
those  designs  entertained  against  their  fellow-creatures.  The  ruffians  de 
parted  with  their  brutal  instincts  aroused.  Finding  a  poor  man  on  their 
way,  they  attacked,  murdered,  and  afterwards,  as  they  thought,  beheaded 
him.  However,  this  turned  out  to  be  their  phantasy,  for  that  man  escaped 
unhurt  and  through  the  midst  of  his  enemies  until  he  reached  his  own  house. 
After  a  close  investigation,  these  persecutors  found  neither  his  head,  nor 
body,  nor  any  traces  of  blood.  Wherefore  they  said  to  each  other":  "  A 

'3  This  account  is  contained  in  Professor  Vita  S.  Brigidze,  sec.  27,  p.  516      Sccunda 

)'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  27,  Vita  S.  Brigiclrc,  cap.  xvii.,  p.  520,  ibid. 

80  When   relating  this  occurrence,  in  his 

«  Ihe  foregoing  narrative  is  very  circum-  usual  manner,  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani 

Stantially  detailed   11^  Abbate   D.   Giacomo  compares   the  paralytic  to   those  Northern 

Certani  s      La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  people,  mentioned  by  Olaus    lib.  ii      cap 

S.    Bngida  Ibernese.       Libro  Quarto,  pp.  14,  and  whose  eyes  are  accommodated  to 

see  throughout  the  night.     See  "  La  Santita 

-See   Colgans       Trias   Thaumaturga."  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,   cap.   iv.,  Libro  Quarto,  pp.  279,  280 

PP-.SSo,  551-     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  s7  See   Colgan's    "Trias"  Thaumatur-a." 

xlvn.    pp.   531,   532,  ibid.     Scxta  Vita  S.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigids,  lib.  ii  ,  cap   v     p 

Brigidse,  sect,  xxxvi     p.   589,   ibid.     It  is  551.     Also,   Vita   Tertia  S.   Brigidae,  cap. 

likely  enough,  from  the   similarity  of  most  xlviii.,  p.  552,  ibid.     In  the   Metrical  Life, 

circumstances  narrated,  that  the  foregoing  we  are  told,  that  the  sun  seemed  to   shine 

narrative  is  only  a  different  version  of  what  without  cessation,  during  the  whole  time  of 

of  w  F    ^  °Ui  ^mt  S,aiCtS'    y  the  aUth°rS       this  Sirl>s  absence  from  home.     See  Sexta 
)f  her  J  irst  and  Second  Lives.     See  Prima      Vita  S.  Brigicte,  sect,  xxxvii.,  p.  590. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  103 


miracle  hath  taken  place,  through  the  providence  of  God,  and  St.  Brigid's 
merits,  for  we  have  not  killed  this  man,  although  the  contrary  seemed  to 
be  the  case/'  For  a  long  time,  the  celebrity  of  this  circumstance  was  noised 
about  through  that  part  of  the  country.  Those  vagabonds  afterwards  laid 
aside  their  emblems,  and  united  in  praising  the  Almighty,  while  magnifying 
St.  Brigid's  extraordinary  prerogatives.53  The  foregoing  events,  as  related,8^ 
apparently  occurred  before  St.  Brigid  took  her  journey  into  Minister  with 
Bishop  Ere  of  Slane  y°  and  therefore,  we  may  deem  it  sufficiently  probable, 
she  had  been  living  at  Kiklare,  antecedent  to  tin's  excursion. 

The  social  relations  of  men  were  often  disturbed  by  violence  and  treachery 
at  that  early  period.  A  chieftain,  who  lived  in  the  plain  of  the  Liffey.  came 
towards  our  saint,  asking  her  blessing.  This  the  holy  virgin  specially  be 
stowed  on  him.  With  great  joy,  the  chief  returned  to  his  castle.  But  during 
the  night,  a  daring  and  hostile  man  entered  the  fort,  while  its  occupants 
were  asleep.  Taking  a  light  from  its  candlestick.'1  he  sought  the  slumbering 
chieftain.  lie  was  found  with  a  sword,  laid  on  the  pillow,  beside  him. 
Seizing  this  sword  of  the  chieftain,  his  enemy  plunged  it  with  great  force 
three  several  times,  as  he  thought,  into  the  owner's  heart,  and  afterwards  he 
lied.  The  castle  inmates  aroused  soon  discovered  what  had  taken  place. 
They  sent  forth  loud  cries  and  lamentations,  supposing  their  chief  had  been 
slain.  The  latter,  however,  seemed  to  awaken  as  it  were  from  sleep,  and  it 
was  found  the  wound  he  received  was  not  of  a  dangerous  character.  He 
consoled  his  friends  by  saying  :  "  Cease  your  lamentations,  for  St.  Brigid's 
blessing,  which  I  obtained  to-day,  hath  preserved  me  from  this  great  danger." 
The  chieftain,  to  manifest  his  gratitude  for  that  miraculous  escape,  visited  St. 
Brigid.  thanking  her  and  offering  her  valuable  presents,  on  the  following  day. 
Our  saint  established  peace,  afterwards,  between  the  chief  and  that  enemy, 
who  sought  his  life,  as  also  among  their  posterity.  This  too  was  continued 
for  an  indefinite  period/'2  Thus  her  mediation,  through  God's  blessing,  was 
both  effective  and  lasting.  Can  we  doubt,  therefore,  as  her  protection  over 
her  people  was  so  powerful  on  earth,  that  it  will  be  less  exercised  in  heaven, 
on  behalf  of  those,  who  devoutly  invoke  her  vigilant  advocacy  ?  Too  fre 
quently,  alas  !  do  we  forget  the  powerful  assistance  our  great  national  saints 
can  render  us  before  the  throne  of  God. 

E3  See  Colon's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  and  died  A. n.  514." — Sir  William   Robert 

Vita   Quarta   S.  Brigidu.',  lib.   ii.,   cap.   xl.,  "Wilde's    "Beauties   of  the   Boyne,   and    its 

p.  556.       From   the   manner  in   which   this  Tributary,  the  Blackwater,"   chap,   vii.,   p. 

same   occurrence   is  related,    in   our    saint's  175. 

Third  Life,  it  would  seem,  that  these  dia-  '•>'  In  these,  and  like  incidental  notices, 
bolical  emblems  subjected  the  bearers  to  we  have  some  idea  given  regarding  the  do- 
certain  unchristian  engagements  or  incanta-  mcstic  economy  of  our  ancestors,  at  least,  at 
lions.  The  signs,  borne  by  those  vagrants,  the  period,  in  which  those  documents  relat- 
in  all  probability,  represented  obscene  or  ing  to  ancient  usages  were  composed, 
monstrous  figures,  typifying  certain  hea-  '-'-'See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
thenish  superstitions.  See  Vila  Tertia  S.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidie,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xli., 
Brigid;*!,  cap.  Ixix..  and  n.  41,  pp.  535,  544,  p.  556.  Our  saint's  Third  Life  states,  thai 
ibid.  I  rather  think  this  i->  the  miracle  al-  the  chief  was  accompanied  by  some  women — • 
hided  to,  in  St.  Brigid's  First  Life,  section  probably  members  of  his  family — and  a  re- 
xxxiii.,  and  in  her  Second  Life,  cap.  xxiii.  tinue,  when  he  visited  St.  Brigid.  It  would 
Colgan  refers  ihese  lalter  accounts  to  ihe  seem,  that  ihc  castle  in  which  he  slept  was 
performance  of  a  miracle,  somewhat  similar  not  h!s  own,  as  it  is  said  to  have  been  situ- 
in  details.  ated  on  ihe  road  to  his  own  domicile.  See 

89  In  the  Third  and  Fourlh  Lives  of  the  Vita  Terlia  S.  Brigida:,  cap.  Ixx.,   p.   535, 
saint  ibid. 

90  Ere  "was  consecrated  by  St.  Patrick, 


104  LIPE  OF  ST.  13  RIG  ID. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ST.  BRIGID'S  INTIMACY  WITH  ST.  PATRICK — ARMAGH — FOUNDATION  OF  ST.  BRIGID 
THERE— HER  MIRACLES— VISION  REGARDING  ST.  PATRICK'S  LAST  RESTING-PLACE — 
HKR  SPIRIT  OF  Sl'HLIME  RECOLLECTION  AND  HER  GREAT  CHARITY— SHE  DESIRES 
THE  INTRODUCTION  OF  THE  ROMAN  RITE  FOR  IRELAND. 

ALTHOUGH  some  doubts  have  been  expressed,  that  St.  Brigid  could  have 
taken  a  very  distinguished  part  in  Irish  Church  affairs,  during  the  lifetime  of 
our  venerable  Apostle  ;  yet,  to  us,  it  seems  perfectly  reconcileable,  not  only 
with  our  early  narratives,  but  with  received  chronology,  that  the  glorious 
daughter  of  Krin  might  have  had  interviews  with  her  illustrious  director,  both 
before  and  after  the  time  of  her  foundation  at  Kildare.  To  determine  ex 
actly  dates  for  the  following  written  incidents  is,  however,  a  matter  of  great 
difficulty.  We  must  endeavour  conjecturally  to  place  them  in  their  order  of 
occurrence,  so  far  as  probabilities  will  allow  us  to  continue.  Perhaps,  the 
arrangement,  with  better  lights  of  view,  might  admit  of  various  alterations 
or  adaptations.  After  certain  miraculous  occurrences,  related  in  her  acts, 
took  place — the  date  or  locality  unnoted — it  is  said  our  saint  went  towards 
the  northern  part  of  Ireland,  accompanied  by  St.  Patrick.1  On  a  certain 
day,  while  the  great  Irish  Apostle  in  the  plain  of  Lemhuin2  preached  God's 
holy  word  from  a  hill3  to  the  people  there,  at  a  place  called  Finnabhair,  4  or 
"the  white  field,"  St.  Brigid  slept.  She  was  probably  very  young  at  this  time. 
After  his  sermon  had  been  concluded,5  St.  Patrick  asked  her  why  she  had 
fallen  asleep  while  the  sacred  word  of  God  was  announced.6  Then  the 
humble  virgin,  on  her  knees,  asked  his  pardon.  She  said  :  "  O  lather,  for 
give  me  ;  O  most  pious  Lord,  spare  me,  for  during  this  hour,  I  have  had  a 
vision."  The  illustrious  missionary  desired  her  to  tell  what  she  had  seen. 
Whereupon,  the  devout  virgin  announced  :  "  I,  your  servant,  have  beheld 
four  ploughs,  ploughing  the  whole  of  Ireland,  while  sowers  were  scattering 
seed.7  This  latter  immediately  sprung  up  and  began  to  ripen,  when  rivulets 
of  fresh  milk  filled  the  furrows,  while  the  sowers  themselves  were  clothed  in 
white  garments.  After  this,  I  saw  others  plough,  and  those  who  ploughed 
appeared  black.8  They  destroyed,  with  their  plough-shares,  the  growing 

CHAPTER  vn.— r  See    Colgan's     "Trias  150,  and  n.  n,  p.  184. 

Thaumaturga,"    Tertia    Vita     S.     Brigidiu,  5 The  Acts  of  St.  Patrick  relate,  that  this 

cap.  Iv-ii.,  p.  533.     (juarta  Vita  S.  .LSrigidaj,  sermon  lasted  three  days   and    three  nights, 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxvii.,  pp.  553,  554.  at  the  hill   of  Finnabhair   at    Lemhuin.     It 

2  The  fort   of  Aughur   and  the   village  of  was  in  the  comity  of  Tyrone  and  d  occ>c  of 
Ballygawley  are  in   it.     Clogher  lay  on  its  Clogher.  The  River  Blackwater  ran  through 
western  and  the  church  of  Errigle-Keeroge  it.     Finnabhair  is  now  corruptly  called  Fin- 
on  its  northern  boundary.      Its   other  name,  dermore,  a  townlaml  in   the  parish  and  ba- 
Clossach,  is  frequently  mentioned  in  O'Mel-  rony  of  Clogher.     See  "  Ordnance  Survey 
lan's  Irish   "Journal  of  the  Wars  of  1641  ;"  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of  Tyrone," 
in   Colton's    "Visitation,"   p.    126;  in  the  Sheets  58,  64. 

"Book  of  Rights,"   p.    152  ;  in  the   "Irish  6  To  Brigid,    it    is    said,   the  time   of  the 

Topographical    Poems1'    of   O'Dugan    and  sermon  did  not  seem  to  be  more  than  one 

O'Huidhrin,  p.    xxi.,    n.   (119).     See  Miss  hour. 

M.     F.     Cusack's    "Life    of   St.     Patrick,  ?  In  the  Sixth  Metrical  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 

Apostle  of  Ireland,"  p.  451,  n.  2.  it  is  stated,  the  white  sowers  came  from  the 

3  So   the    Seventh    Life   of   St.     Patrick  East. 

states-  8  In  her  Sixth   Metrical  Life,  in  Colgan's 

«See    Colgans    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  " Trias  Thaumaturga,"   St.  Brigid  is  made 

Joceline  s    or    Sexta    \  ita    S.   Patricii,  cap.        to  say  : 

xcvi.,  pp.  86,  87,  and  n.  105,  p.  113.    This 

place  was  situated  in  the  ancient  territory  of  "  ^'onsPexi  populos  septem  de  parte  trionis, 

Liemania,  sometimes  called  Magh-Lemna,  Nigris   cum   bovibus    venientes    vultibus 

or  Clossach,  by  others.     See  ibid.,  Septima  atris." 

Vita  S.  Patricii,  pars,  iii.,  cap.  iv.,  pp.  149,  —Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  sec.  Ixv.,   p.  595. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


105 


corn  •  and,  they  sowed  tares,  which  filled  the  furrows. "9  The  Irish  Apostle 
then  said  to  our  saint :  "  O  holy  virgin,  you  have  beheld  a  true  and  wonder 
ful  vision.  This  is  its  interpretation.  We  are  the  good  ploughers,  who, 
with  the  shares  of  the  four  Gospels,  cultivate  human  hearts,  and  sow'  God's 
words,  while  those  rivers,  containing  the  milk  of  Christian  faith,  proceed  from 
our  labours.  But,  towards  the  end  of  this  world,  bad  teachers  shall  preach 
to  depraved  generations,  who  will  receive  them.10  Those  teachers11  shall 
destroy  our  instructions,  and  shall  seduce  nearly  the  whole  human  race.12'' 
Brigid  also  had  a  vision  regarding  the  two  sons  of  Eochaidh.1}  son  of  Crim- 
thann,H  at  the  same  place.1*  The  elder  of  these,  named  Bressal,  was  re 
presented  by  the  figure  of  a  large  stone,  wasting  away  under  falling  showers  ; 
while,  the  younger,  Carbre,  surnamed  Damhairgid.  was  denoted  by  a  smaller 
stone,  which  increased,  and  sent  forth  bright  sparks,  as  the  rain'fell.'6  St. 
Patrick  interpreted  this  to  mean,  that  the  rain  represented  the  shower  of 
celestial  grace,  falling  in  vain  on  the  unbeliever  IJress.iI,  while,  its  dews,  de 
scending  on  the  believer  Carbre,1?  signified  an  increase  to  him  of  blessings 
for  the  future.1  Hereupon,  those  who  were  then  present,  with  St.  Patrick 
St.  Brigid,  praised  Almighty  God.'y  A  synod  had  been  convened  at 
this  place.'-'  The  degeneracy  of  Christian  feelm-  and  practice,  during  sub 
sequent  times,  as  also  the  efforts  of  heretical  and  false  teachers  to  pervert  the 


'•  In  the  Acts  of  St.  Patrick,  \ve  find  the 
following  additional  particulars  described  in 
her  vision  :— "  And  after  that,  I  saw  spotted 
and  motley-coloured  oxen,  then  \\ild  and 
black  animals.  After  these  I  saw  sheep 
and  swine  and  wolves  and  dogs  contending 
with  one  another."  See  Rev.  S.  liaring- 
Gould's  "Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  I,  p.  21. 

10  St.  Patrick  describes  the   evil   teachers 
as — 

"  Pastores   cupidi,   qui    plus   sua  lucra  sc- 

quentur, 

Non    irumcnta    satis,    sed    lolia    subdere 
sulcis 

Curaount,"  &c. 

—  Sec  Vita  Sexta  S.  Bright1,  sec.  Ixv.,  p. 
395-  Colgan'.-,  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  This 
metrical  account  was  suppl.ed  Horn  a  MS. 
in  the  library  ol  his  hmmenee  Cardinal 
Antonio  L'arbermi,  p.  ie>02,  being  warning 
in  the  Monte  Casino  MS. 

11  They  are  called  deludes   and   hypocrites 
in   Professor   O'Looncy's   Irish  Life    of  St. 
lirigid,  pp.  29,  30. 

'•The  Rev.  S.  Haring-Gould,  a  clergyman 
of  the  Anglican  Church,  calls  the  foregoing 
a  remarkable  prophecy  regarding  "  t!  e 
miserable  apostasy  of  the  so-called  Refor 
mation." — "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  i,  p.  21. 

IJ  Eochaidh  was  prince  of  Oirgallia.  Thus, 
Aubrey  de  Vere  alludes  to  him,  in  the  poem, 
"  Saint  Patrick  and  King  Lochaidh"  : — 

"  Eochaidh,    son  of  Cruimther,  reigned,  a 

king 

Northward  in  Clochar." 
—"Legends  of  St.  Patrick,"  p.  149. 


'H'rimthann  was  son  to  Fieg,  son  of 
Deadad,  son  to  Rochad,  son  of  Colla  Dach- 
rioch,  according  to  the  "  Sanctilogic  Ge 
nealogy,''  cliaj).  xiii. 

"  1  saw  subsequently  two  stones,  one 
little  and  the  other  big.  A  drop  was  shed 
on  each  of  them.  The  little  stone  increased 
at  the  'drop,'  and  silvery  sparks  burst 
from  it.  '1  he  large  stone  withered,  more 
over."  These  words  of  Hrigid,  St.  Patrick 
interpreted  to  mean  Cairpre  Damhairgit, 
who  believed  and  wa>  blessed  with  his  seed, 
and  Ilie-al,  \\horefused  to  believe,  when  a 
malediction  was  pronounced  against  him. 
See  .Miss  Mary  F.  Cusack's  "Life  of  St. 
Patrick,  Apostle  of  Ireland,"]).  452. 

'"See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Septima  Vita  S.  Patricii,  pars,  iii.,  cap.  vi., 
and  n.  12,  pp.  150,  iS4. 

'"Ainoi.g  the  posterity  of  Carbry, 
blessed  by  St.  Patrick,  we  find  enumerated 
there,  St.  Fnd;L-us  of  Aran,  St.  Fanchea, 
St.  Teganu-,,  St.  Darenia,  and  St.  Lochina, 
bisters  to  St.  Liukeus,  St.  lieg  Mac  L>e,  with 
many  other  saints.  See  Colgan's  "  Acta 
Sanctorum  Ilibernia-,"  xxi.  Martii,  Ap- 
pendix  ad  \'itam  S.  Endu_-i,  cap.  iv.,  pp. 
713,  7'4- 

lcUnly   the   writer  of  St.   Brigid's  Sixth 

.ife  mentions  this  vision  of  the  saint  in  her 

Act-.      See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga," 

Vua  Sexta  S.  Brigidx,  sec.  Ixvi.,  and  n.  17, 

PP-  595.  59> 

l>  See  iliuf.,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  xxvii.,  pp.  553,  554.  Vita  Tertia 
S.  Brigidae,  cap.  hii.,  p.  533,  ibij. 

'"  According  to  some  accounts,  St.  Patrick 
is  said  to  have  held  nearly  sixty  synods  in 
Ireland.  See  Villaneuva's  "  Sancti  Pa- 
tricii,  Ibernorum  Apostoli,  Synodi,  Ca- 
noiies,  Opuscula,"  &c.,  pp.  7,  8. 


io6  LIFE  OF  ST.  B 'RIGID. 


minds  and  principles  of  the  faithful  in  Ireland,21  have  been  popularly  be 
lieved  to  furnish  the  correct  interpretation  for  this  remarkable  Brigitine 
vision. 

It  is  probable,  Lemhuin  and  Finnabhair  are  the  places  alluded  to,  where 
St.  Patrick  and  St.  P>rigid,  with  their  religious,  are  said  to  have  been  assem 
bled  at  a  time  the  holy  Apostle  of  Ireland  did  not  cease  giving  instructions 
to  the  people,  for  three  whole  days  and  three  nights.22  The  sun  continued 
shining,  as  we  are  told  ;  however,  during  this  protracted  sermon,  the  auditors 
supposed,  that  not  more  than  an  hour  had  elapsed.  One  man  only  had  a 
knowledge  regarding  what  length  of  time  had  been  spent  in  this  place.  On 
approaching,  he  asked  the  holy  Bishop,  why  he  had  remained  there  for  so 
long  an  interval.  The  Apostle  asked  him  what  time  had  elapsed,  and  was 
then  told  a  duration,  equal  to  three  days  and  as  many  nights.  Then  said 
the  holy  father  :  "  For  forty  days  and  nights,  we  should  have  remained  here, 
had  not  a  stranger  warned  us  about  our  delay,  nor  should  we  have  experi 
enced  fatigue  nor  hunger,  through  the  Divine  clemency."  Afterwards,  St. 
Patrick  and  St.  Brigid  returned  to  their  respective  districts. 2^  Those  are 
not  specified ;  but,  it  may  be,  St.  Patrick  proceeded  on  his  missionary  career 
through  Ulster,  while  Brigid  returned  to  her  home  or  convent  in  Meath  or 
Leinster.24 

It  is  related,  that  Brigid  visited  Armagh,  most  probably  after  she  had 
established  her  parent  house  at  Kildare.  She  always  desired  the  wise  counsel 
of  St.  Patrick.25  It  may  not  be  unlikely,  this  journey  was  undertaken  at 
the  special  request  of  the  Irish  Apostle  himself.  He  intended  Armagh  to  be 
the  seat  of  ecclesiastical  rule  ;  and,  here  he  is  said  to  have  built,  not  alone 
his  cathedral  church,26  but  likewise,  several  other  religious  houses.2?  What 
could  be  more  desirable,  than  founding  a  holy  institute,  where  his  fervent 
female  converts  could  find  a  happy  retreat  and  a  career  of  Christian  useful 
ness  ?  Who  could  be  chosen  more  capable  of  teaching  nuns,  both  by  word 
and  example,  than  the  zealous  and  energetic  Abbess  of  Kildare  ?28  If  we 
are  to  believe  a  modern  compilation,  St.  Patrick  founded  Temple  Brigid  in 
this  city  of  Armagh.29  It  seems  more  likely,  that  the  Regies  Brighde,  or  St. 
Bride's  Church,  if  founded  during  his  lifetime,  had  been  also  the  joint  con 
cern  of  St.  Brigid,  to  accommodate  some  religious  daughters,  belonging  to  her 
order.  Long  after  her  decease,  the  coarbs  of  the  Regies  Brighde,3°are  men- 

21  See  the  foregoing  narative  produced  in       this  place,  A.D.  455,  to  St.  Binen  ;  and  that 
Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santita       he  died  at  Saul  or  Sabhal,  A.D.  493.     See 
Prodigiosa,     Vitadi  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."       chap,  i.,  pp.  82,  84,  85. 

Libro  Quarto,  pp.  323  to  326.  -7  An   inexact  historical  compiler  affirms, 

22  See    Abbate    Giacomo  Certani's    "La  that  St.  Patrick  founded   an  abbey    at    Ar- 
Santita   Prodigiosa.      Vita    di    S.    Brigida  magh  for  regular  Canons  of  St.  Augustine's 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  326,  327.  order,  in  445  or    457.       See    Sir    Charles 

23  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  Coote's  "  Statistical   Survey  of  the  County 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida;,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxiii.  of  Armagh,"  Appendix,  p.  29. 

P-.S55-     In    the    Third    Life  of  our  saint,  ~a  We    are    informed,  that   "she    was  in- 

this  sermon  was  preached,    it  is   stated,    at  vited  to   come   and  form  establishments  in 

the  request  of  St.  Brigid.     See  Vita  Tertia  various   districts."— Rev.     M.   J.    Brenan's 

S.  Brigida',  cap.  Ixiii.,  p.  534.     Ibid.  "  Lcclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,"  chap. 

24  The    foregoing   incidents  are  probably  iii.,  p.  51. 

referable  to  St.    Brigid's  earliest  interviews  29  See    Sir   Charles    Coote's    "Statistical 

with  St.  Patrick.  Survey  of    the  County   of  Armagh,"    Ap- 

25See  "The  Life  of  St.    Brigid,"   by  an  pendix,  p.  30. 

Irish  Priest,  chap,  vii.,  pp,  87,  88.  30  In  Irish>   ne5ter  fcpig-oe.     This  little 

James  Stuart,  A.B.,  who  has  published  conventual  church  was  outside  the  rath.    Its 

Historical  Memoirs   of  the   City   of   Ar-  situation  is  marked  on  the  Map  of  the  City 

magh     states,  that  St.  Patrick  built  a  ca-  of    Armagh,     constructed     on  J.    Roque's 

idral  and   some   other  religious   edifices  Map  of  1760,  and  R.  Levingstone's  Survey 

there,  A.D.  445  ;  that  he  held  a  synod  there,  of  1767,  prefixed  to  the  Eev.  Wm.  Reeves' 

A.D.  448  ;  that  he  resigned  the  bishopric  of  "Ancient  Churches  of  Armagh,"  sec.    v., 


LIFE  OP  ST.  BRIGID. 


107 


tioned  in  our  annals.31  Now  St.  Bride's  shares  its  honours  with  a  paddocks 
From  the  expression  coarb, ^  or  abbatial  successor,  we  may  conclude  that, 
though  small,  it  was  a  religious  house  which  might  have  traced  back  its 
origin  to  the  era  of  its  reputed  founder^4  In  1179,  the  Regies  Brighde 
and  the  Teampull-na-Fearta^  escaped  a  wide-spread  conflagration^6  which 
consumed  the  greater  part  of  Armagh. 3?  In  1189,  however,  Armagh  was 
burned  from  St.  Brigid's  cross  to  the  Regies  Brighde. 3s  The  occupants  of 
the  nunnery  here  were  possibly  of  St.  Brigid's  order,  and  observants  of  her 
rule,  from  the  earliest  period.-^  Two  townlands  belonging  to  it,  at  one  time, 
paid  a  rental  of  four  shillings  a  year.40  Afterwards,  these  endowments  seem 
to  have  been  absorbed  in  some  more  powerful  interest ;  for,  at  the  period  of 
the  suppression  of  religious  houses,  its  sole  possessions  were  the  building 
and  the  surrounding  premises,  which  occupied  about  one  acre.41  At  the  time 
of  the  dissolution4-  it  was  a  nunnery,  and  possibly  a  cell  of  Templefertagh  ;  for, 
in  inquisitions  and  patents,  both  are  coupled,  and  they  have  changed  hands 
in  company  ever  since.4-*  The  precincts  of  Temple-breed  occupy  an  irregular 
space,  situated  to  the  south-east  of  the  Protestant  cathedral,  at  Armaghfand 
having  frontage  in  the  middle,  at  the  south  side  of  Castle-street.4"4  '  The 
old  Catholic  chapel  stands  on  the  south-west  bound,  and  the  site  of  Temple- 
breed  lies  about  thirty  yards  north-east  of  the  near  end  of  the  chapel. 4$  An 
ancient  cemetery  adjoined  the  nunnery.46  The  historian  of  Armagh  cor 
rectly  identifies  Teampull  na  Fearta  with  the  Dobbin  holding;4?  yet,  strange 
to  say,  elsewhere,  he  professes  his  inability  to  determine  its  position.48  Like 


p.  25.  Printed  for  the  Author,  Lu.sk  : 
MDCCCI.X,  small  Svo. 

31  The  "  Annals  of  Ulster"  ami  "  Annals 
of  the  Four  Masters'"  record  at  A. 11,1085. 
the  death  of  (Jormgeal  Loighseach.  See 
Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Reruin  Hibernicaruin  Scrip- 
tores,"  tomus  iii.,  p.  648,  and  tomus  iv.  p. 
350.  In  the  former  Annals,  the  Latinized 
rendering  is  "  Vicaria  Ecclesi;e  S.  lirigid^u 
in  Ardmacha,  sapiens  intelligentia  et  pie- 
tate."  In  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Mas 
ters,"  "(iormgalus  Lagi>ien>is  Yicariu>  Lc- 
cleMiv  Brigidiu  in  Ardmacha,  sapiens  sci- 
entia  ct  religione. " 

3- See  Rev.  "William  Reeves'  "Ancient 
Churches  of  Armagh,"  p.  ^. 

33  The  word  coarb  is   applied   to  the   suc 
cessor  or  representative  of  the  patron  saint, 
or  original  founder  of  a  monastery,   priory, 
or  any  ecclesiastical  establishment,  or  to  the 
successor  of  a  bishop.      See  Owen   Connel- 
lan's  and  Philip  MacDermott's   "Annals  of 
Ireland,    translated   from   the  original  Irish 
of  the  Four  Masters,"  n.  2,  p.  i. 

34  See     Rev.     Dr.      Reeves'     "Ancient 
Churches  of  Armagh,"  sec.  v.,   p.  25. 

35 This  is  represented  as  having  been  the 
present  Scotch-street,  supposed  by  Dr. 
Reeves  to  have  been  called  Templefartagh- 
street  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  II.  See 
ibid.,  sec.  i.,  p.  n. 

36  See  Rev.  Robert  King's  "Memoir  in 
troductory  to  the  early  History  of  the  Pri 
macy  of  Armagh,"  p.  m. 

3?  Probably  on  account  of  their  position 
outside  the  rath,  and  the  densely-occupied 
portion  of  the  town. 

38  See  Ur.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  iii.,  pp.  84,  85. 


-"See  Rev.  William  Reeves'  "Ancient 
hurches  of  Armagh,"  see.  i.,  p.  10. 

''According  to' Primate  Dowdall's  Re 
gister  of  the  See  of  Armagh. 

41  An  inquisition  of  1612,  finds  that  this 
was  a  nunnery.  Ultonia  Imp  Armagh,  No. 
3,  James  I. 

4-  Then  it  was  occupied  by  a  singer,  or 
"cantator,"  who  resided  in  said  monastery, 
place,  or  house,  called  Templebreed. 

4)l!oth  lots,  known  as  the  two  Abbey 
Courts,  or  the  Karl  of  Anglesey's  Liberty, 
were  assigned  by  lease  in  1799,  and  this 
was  converted  into  fee  by  the  late  Leonard 

Dobbin,    Fsq. 

44  The  nunnery  enclosure  extended  back 
wards  down  the  slope,  south  and  south-east, 
to  near,  but  not  touching,  Thomas-street. 

45  On    the    Castle-street    frontage    of   St. 
Brigid's  ground  -tood  the  old  castellated  house 
which  gave  name  to  the  street.      It  was  an 
ciently  called  Port-Rath   or   Rath-Armagh, 
and    occasionally    Rathene.       See   Stuart's 
"  I  li.storical  Memoir  of  the  City  of  Armagh," 
chap,  v.,  p.  144. 

»  -^  See  the  "Dublin  Penny  Journal,"  for 
notice  of  an  ancient  bronze  se'al  belonging 
to  a  former  Dean  of  Armagh,  vol.  ii.^  pt 
112.  This  communication  of  the  late  John 
Corry,  the  truest  antiquary  Armagh  ever 
produced,  is  accompanied  by  an  illustration. 
The  seal  was  found  on  the  site  of  Temple 
Brigid. 

v  See  "  Historical  Memoirs  of  the  City 
of  Armagh,"  chap,  xxvi.,  pp.  511,512,514. 

48Seez<W.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  83,  87,  and  in 
the  Appendices  vi.  and  vii.  Stuart  conjec 
tures,  that  it  was  at  an  old  abbey,  used  as  a 
cemetery  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  cen- 


io8 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


many  other  cathedral  cities,  Armagh  sprung  up  and  extended  around  its 
minster  church.  It  likewise  grew  by  degrees  into  beauty  of  design  and 
appearance.49  Incomparably  fine  and  picturesque  views  of  it  are  furnished 


City  of  Armagh,  from  the  East. 

at  every  point  of  approach  ;  hills  and  valleys  and  rushing  streams  give   va 
riety  and  interest  to  each  of  its  suburbs. 

The  ready  resources  of  true  charity,  as  exercised  on  behalf  of  our  neigh 
bour,  are  ever  versatile,  and  applicable  towards  objects  and  conditions, 
which  call  forth  their  exercise  by  cloistered  religious.  One  day,  a  poor 
leper  came  to  our  saint,  entreating  permission  to  have  his  garments  washed 
at  her  establishment.  It  is  probable,  that  some  public  provision  had  been 
there  made.  Brigid  compassionately  assented  to  the  leper's  request,  and 
when  told  by  the  afflicted  pauper,  that  he  had  no  other  garments  for  a 
change,  while  what  he  wore  should  be  washed  and  dried,  our  holy  abbess 
directed  one  of  her  nuns  to  present  him  with  her  second  habit,  which  she 
was  not  obliged  to  wear.  Having  a  very  natural  objection  to  give  her 
clothes  to  a  man,  labouring  under  so  loathsome  a  disease,  that  nun  could 
hardly  bear  such  a  proposal.  She  was  immediately  struck  with  leprosy,50 
for  her  disobedience,  and  she  continued  in  this  state  for  the  lapse  of  an  hour. 
Then,  indeed,  she  repented  on  account  of  her  refusal.  Through  the  prayers 
of  St.  Brigid,  howrever,  she  was  soon^leansed  from  this  infectious  disease.51 


tury,  and  that  it  was  situated  within  the 
Protestant  Primate's  demesne.  See  p.  598. 
49  The  annexed  view,  from  a  photograph 
by  Frederick  W.  Mares,  Dublin,  was  drawn 
on  the  wood  by  William  F.  Wakeman,  and 
engraved  by  George  A.  Ilanlon.  On  a  high 
hill  to  the  right  is  the  new  Catholic  cathe 
dral,  with  its  double  flanking  towers  and 
spires.  The  Protestant  cathedral,  with  its 
square  tower,  occupies  a  high  hill  in  the 


centre  of  the  city. 

50  The  Sixth  Life  of  our  saint  says  : — 

' '  Virgineamque    cutem    percussit   Candida 

lepra." 

— Colgan's    "  Trias   Thaumaturga,"    Sexta 
Vita  IS.  Brigidre,  sec.  Ixiii. ,  p.  596. 

51  The  leprosy  of  cold  climates  seems  to 
be  a  local  disease  of  the  cutis,  its  vessels 


LII'E   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  109 


One  of  the  other  nuns,  with  more  charity,  had  already  presented  the  poor 
man  with  a  garment,  whilst  all  the  community  acknowledged  the  justice  of 
God's  judgment  on  their  now  penitent  sister.  When  the  poor  leper  had 
resumed  his  own  attire,  the  holy  abbess  procured  for  him,  likewise,  the 
blessing  of  a  release  from  his  miserable  condition.  Her  sisters  gave  thanks 
to  God,  on  witnessing  these  manifestations  of  His  Almighty  power.  The 
holy  abbess  and  her  nuns  dwelt  in  a  particular  cell,  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  where  the  foregoing  occurrences  took  place.  One  night,  during 
Lenten  time,  eight  daring  thieves  came  to  steal  four  horses,  which  belonged 
to  the  community.  A  nun,  who  remained  awake  at  that  time,  announced  to 
our  saint  this  robbery  which  had  been  perpetrated.  The  abbess  said  :  "  Be 
it  so  ;  I  already  know  it,  but  there  will  be  found  others,  more  powerful  than 
we  are,  who  may  retaliate.''  On  departing  with  their  prey,  those  robbers 
went  towards  the  house  of  a  peasant  or  farmer,  from  whom  they  took  forty 
measures  of  corn.  These  were  put  on  the  four  horses  and  on  their  own 
shoulders.  Afterwards,  they  proceeded,  as  they  thought,  to  their  homes. 
Yet,  the  Almighty  had  decreed,  that  the  thieves  should  retrace  their  course 
towards  that  granary  belonging  to  the  nuns.  Having  deposited  their  booty, 
they  retired  to  rest  in  a  corner  of  the  barn.  On  the  following  morning,  the 
persons,  who  had  experienced  a  loss  of  their  corn,  setting  out  on  the  tracks 
of  those  thieves  and  of  the  previously-stolen  horses,  came  in  chase  to  St. 
Brigid's  dwelling-place.  They  declared  their  reason  for  coming,  and  ex 
plained  about  certain  indications,  which  led  them  to  suppose,  they  had  fol 
lowed  in  a  right  direction.  They  also  requested  our  abbess  to  give  them 
whatever  iniormation  she  could  furnish  regarding  this  matter.  The  holy 
virgin  then  went  to  that  granary,  where  she  found  the  robbers  sleeping. 
Having  awakened  them,  she  asked  why  they  had  dared  to  bring  their  booty 
thither,  when  they  replied,  in  fear  and  amazement,  that  they  had  been  under 
an  impression  they  returned  to  and  slept  in  their  own  homes.52  Attenvards, 
St.  Brigid  sent  a  message  to  St.  Patrick,  who  was  not  far  distant  from  that 
place,  with  a  request  that  he  would  come  and  release  those  robbers.  The 
holy  prelate  immediately  came  to  our  saint.  Having  ransomed  them,  they 
repented,  and  sought  to  atone  for  their  crimes,  by  offering  that  corn  they 
had  taken  to  St.  Brigid  and  to  her  nuns,  being  convinced,  such  restitution 
should  be  acceptable  to  God.5J  By  the  occurrence  of  this  miracle,  St. 
Brigid's  fame  was  greatly  diffused,  through  this  particular  district  of  country.s* 
While  St.  Brigid,  with  some  of  her  nuns,  was  one  day  seated  near  Armagh 
city,  two  men  approached,  bearing  water  in  an  uncovered  wooden  vessel.55 
On  coming  towards  the  holy  abbess,  they  entreated  her  to  bless  this  water. 
With  their  request  she  complied,  and  she  also  blessed  themselves,  at  the 


and  glands  ;  but,  it   is   much  more  virulent  trated.     See  Vita  Tertia   S.   Brigidce,  cap. 
and    contagious    in    warm    climates.      See     (  lix.,  p.  533>     Ibid. 

Dr.  Robert  Thomas'  ''  Modern    Practice   of  5J  We    are    not     informed,     whether    our 

Physic,"   &c.     Article,    Lepra  or   Leprosy,  saint  received  this  offering,  which  she  could 

PP-  729>  730-     London:   1834.  <Svo.   Tenth  only  have  accepted  rightiully,  with  consent 

edition.  of  the  real  owner  of  the  corn  stolen. 

5"  See    Colgan's    "  Trias    Thaumaturga,"  £4  It  is  probable,  the  unfinished  portion  of 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida.',  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxviii.,  our  saint's  Sixth  Life,   as  found   in  the  Bar- 

xxix.,    p.    554.     In    another   of  our    saint's  barini  -MS.,  had  reference  also  to  this  miracle, 

lives,  it  is  said,  that  a  deficiency  of  corn  ex-  See  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigida;,  sec.  Ixv.,  p.  596. 

isted  at  the  time   of  this  rubbery,    that  the  Ibid. 

grain   taken   had  been  winnowed,  and  in-  55  See  Abbate  Certani's  "  La  Santita  Pro 
tended  for  seed,   and   that  the    thieves  en-  digiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida Ibernese."  Libro 
tered,  not  a  barn,  but  a  small  hut,  to  sleep  Quinto,  pp.  340,  341. 
there,  after  this  robbery  had  been  perpe- 


1IO  LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


same  time.  Departing  from  her,  it  happened,  that  vessel  containing  water 
fell  on  its  side,  and  not  only  did  it  remain  unbroken,  but  not  even  one 
drop  of  its  contents  spilled  through  the  aperture.56  This  remarkable  cir 
cumstance  was  attributed  to  the  efficacy  of  St.  Brigid's  prayers.  When  St. 
Patrick  had  been  informed  regarding  such  an  occurrence,  he  ordered  a  part 
of  the  water  contained  in  that  vessel  to  be  divided  among  particular 
churches  about  Armagh,5?  and  to  be  used  in  the  Eucharistic  sacrifice.58 
Another  portion  he  desired  should  be  sprinkled  on  the  fields,  to  make  them 
productive. M  His  orders  were  obeyed,  and  many,  who  had  been  benefited 
by  this  distribution,  gave  thanks  to  God  and  to  his  glorious  servant,  St. 
Brigid.60 

A  certain  wealthy  and  good  nobleman  lived  in  the  plain  of  Macha.61 
He  suffered  greatly  from  disease  and  a  pestilence,  which  baffled  the  skill  of 
physicians.  At  last  he  sent  to  St.  Brigid,  requesting  a  visit  from  her ;  and, 
while  approaching  the  house,  which  she  saw  at  a  distance,  our  holy  virgin 
declared,  that  from  whatever  quarter  the  wind  blew,  it  should  bring  calamity 
and  disease  on  the  master  of  that  dwelling.62  When  this  was  told  the  noble 
man,  he  was  surprised,  and  declared  he  did  not  know  why  he  should  incur 
such  a  judgment,  as  he  had  done  evil  to  no  person.  Then  his  herd  re 
plied,  by  stating,  it  had  been  rumoured,  that  all  wayfarers  without  exception 
were  in  the  habit  of  cursing  this  nobleman,  because  he  had  allowed  his 
husbandmen  to  enclose  certain  fields,  with  hedges,63  which  had  the  effect  of 
making  an  adjoining  highway  impassable,  owing  to  their  thorny  obstructions. 
When  St.  Brigid  heard  of  this,  she  declared  it  was  the  cause  of  his  misfor 
tune.  Wherefore,  that  nobleman  gave  orders  to  restore  the  highway  to  its 
former  unincumbered  state.  Afterwards,  all  passengers  bestowed  their  bless 
ings  on  him.  He  was  also  relieved  from  his  infirmities,  through  the  prayers 
of  St.  Brigid,  to  whom,  and  to  the  Almighty,  he  offered  humble  acknow 
ledgments.64 

To  the  pious  abbess,  among  other  gifts,  was  accorded  the  spirit  of  pro 
phecy.65  We  are  told,  while  St.  Patrick,  on  a  certain  day,  preached  the 

56  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  depressions  and  eminences,  highly  cultivated 

St.  Brigid,  it  is  said  to  have  rolled  from  the  and  improved  by  art. 
door  of  the  Rath  to  Lochlaphain,  pp.  29,30.  6a  This  account,   with  his  usual  classical 

s?  And  throughout     Airthiria    (Orior)    is  illustrations,  is  also  to  be  found  elaborated 

added  in  Professor  O'Looney's  MS.     Ibid.  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  San- 

58  "  Ut  ad  Eucharistiam  sanguinis  Christ!  tita  Procligiosa.     Vita  di  S.   Brigida  Iber- 
mitteretur,"  &c.,  are  the  words  used  in  our  nese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  334  to  338. 
saint's  Third  and  Fourth  Lives.    They  show  °3  This  passage  indicates  early  Irish  agri- 
how  early  in    Ireland    was  the   practice  of  cultural    improvements,    in  fencing    landed 
mingling    some    drops    of  water    with  wine  property.       These   probably,    in    many  in- 
used  at  Mass,  thus  according   with  the  pre-  stances,  should  favourably  compare  with  the 
sent  Roman  rite.  present   state  of  landed  proprietors'  efforts 

59  \Ve  are   told,   moreover,   that  it  cured  in  Ireland.     Much  more  should  have  been 
every  disease  and  distemper  that  was  in  the  done  to  trim  hedges  and  secure  fields  in  an 
country.      Professor  O'Looney's   Irish   Life  ornamental  manner.   By  planting  trees  more 
of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  29,  30.  generally  and  by  building  commodious  and 

60  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  handsome    dwellings  for   farmers  and  cot- 
Vita  Quart  a  S.  Brigidte,  lib.  ii. ,  cap.  xxxii.,  tiers,    the   natural  features  of  our  landscapes 
pp.554)  555-     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  might   be   rendered   far   more   picturesque, 
Ixii.,  p.  534.     Ibid.  while  social  order  and  happiness  should  be 

61  In    one  reading,     Colgan    found    ' '  in  increased. 

campo   Alanc/w,    which   he  amends  in  the  64  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga," 

following  comment,  "rcctius  Macho."     This  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.   ii.,  cap.  xxxL, 

was  a  plain  extending  round  Armagh,  called  p.  554.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Ixi., 

in  Irish,  Magh,  Madia,  n.  34,  p.  543.  This  p.  534.     Ibid. 

plain  now— if  it  can  be  so  called — presents  6s  Bishop   De   Burgo's    "  Officia   Propria 

charmingly  diversified  sylvan    and  pastoral  Sanctorum  Hibernian"     In  Festo  S.   Bri- 

prospects,  with  delightful  rolling  surfaces,  gidas  Ofncium,     Lect.  vi.,  p.  13. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


in 


word  of  God,  in  the  province  of  Ulster,  and  while  the  pearl  of  Ireland66 
formed  one  of  a  numerous  concourse  of  persons  present,  the  whole  multi 
tude  saw  a  cloud  of  surpassing  brightness  descending  from  the  heavens  to 
wards  the  earth.67  This  luminous  meteor  rested  over  a  place,  adjoining  that 
in  which  the  congregation  had  been  assembled.  Afterwards,  this  bright 
meteor  drifted  towards  the  citadel  or  Dun  of  Leathglass.63  This  remarkable 
Dun  is  still  a  prominent  object  near  Downpatrick.6^  Having  continued 
there  for  a  considerable  time,  it  finally  disappeared.  The  congregation  pre- 


60  Thus  is    St.  Brigid  poetically  styled  by 


Jocelyn,  who    relates  the>e    incidents.      See 
Colgan's     "  Trias   Thaumaturga."       Sexta 


Vita  S.   Patricii,  eap.  clxxxviii.,  elxxxix.,  p. 


67  The  Abbate  D.  (".iacomo  Certani  thus 
writes: — "  Staua  cgli  mm  liingi  alia  >ua 
Canonica  Saballense  discorrendo  delle 
bcllezze  del  I'aradiso,  alle  quali  di  gia  s'ap- 
prossimaua,  quando  si  vide  vn  Globo  grande 
di  luminosissima  luce  fermar>i  sul  ciinitero, 
quc  staua  poeo  huigi  allaCitla  di  Duno.''- 
''  La  Santita  Prodigio>a.  \'ita  di  S.  Urigida 
Iberne^e."  Libro  Ouarto,  p.  328. 

Od  "  Ubi  sepultus  e>t  ip>e  Saiietus  Patri- 
cius,  IJe.Ua  Urigida  et  reliqiue  Ucati.-simi 
Abbatis  (Jolumke  po^  multos  annos  collo- 
cat.u  in  sepulchro,"  will  be  found  inserted 
between  bracket^,  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  St. 
Brigid,  where  an  account  of  thc^e  events 
is  given.  The  >ite  of  the  citadel  here  men 
tioned  was  known  as  Dun  da  leth-glas,  by 
the  ancient  inhabitants  of  our  inland,  or  as 
contracted  into  Dun,  now  Anglici/ed  Down. 
In  Latin  it  is  called  Diiintm.  It  is  now  a 
city  and  an  episcopal  see,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  l'l>tcr.  At  a  period  long  subse 
quent  to  their  several  deaths,  the  relics  of 
Saints  Patrick,  Brigid,  and  Columkille  were 
preserved  in  Down.  This  incidental  pas 
sage — already  quoted  from  the  Fourth  Life 
of  our  saint — shows  thai  the  writer  of  this 
treatise  must  have  written  it,  subsequent  to 
A.D.  823,  when,  according  to  Dr.  O'Dono- 
van's  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters," 
"Blathmac,  son  of  Flann,  received  the 
crown  of  martyrdom,  for  he  was  killed  by 
the  foreigners  at  I  Coluim-Cille,"  vol.  i..  pp. 
436,  437-  At  that  date,  St.  Columkilie's 
relics  were  kept  at  lona,  off  Albanian  Sco 
tia's  coast,  as  \Yalafrid  Strabo,  a  contempo 
raneous  writer,  relates,  in  his  account  of  St. 
Blathmac's  martyrdom,  in  these  lines  : — 

"  Et  reliquis  rabida  sociis  feritate  peremptis, 
Ad  sanctum  venere  patrem,   pretiosa  nie- 

talla 

Redere  cogentes,  queis  sancta  Columbae 
Ossa  jacent ;  quam  quippe  suis  de  sedi- 

bus  arcam 

Tollentes  tumulo  terra  posuere  cavato 
Cespite   sub  denso,    gnari  jam  pestis  ini- 

quae." 

At  the  time  of  St.  Blathmaic's  martyrdom, 


according  to  authors  worthy  of  credit,  the 
whole  of  liritain,  and  especially  the  He- 
bride--,  .suffered  from  the  frequent  incur 
sions  of  Danes  ami  other  Pagans,  and  for 
nearly  two  hundred  years  subsequently  Dub 
lin  had  been  occupied  by  the  Northmen, 
A.D.  840,  while  they  made  frequent  inroads 
into  other  parts  of  our  island,  especially 
upon  I.einster,  burning  and  devastating  va 
rious  places  where  they  came.  Kildare  is 
mentioned,  as  having  been  spoiled  by  them, 
A.i>.  835,  while  Kethernus,  prior  in  this 
city,  with  many  others,  had  been  put  to 
death,  A.D.  843.  Wherefore,  Colgan  thinks 
it  fair  to  conjecture,  although  he  could  not 
pronounce  with  certainty,  that  St.  Brigid's 
sacred  relic*  had  been  transferred  from  Kil 
dare,  while  those  of  St.  Columkillc  had 
been  removed  from  lona  Inland  to  Down, 
before  or  about  the  middle  of  the  ninth  cen 
tury.  This  he  considers  a  more  probable 
opinion,  because  no  other  period  for  this 
translation  can  be  pointed  to  as  more  op 
portune,  and  because,  at  that  time,  it  is  not 
a  little  remarkable,  that  one  and  the  same 
abbot  presided  over  the  monasteries  of  Kil 
dare  and  lona,  while  it  is  probable,  he  con 
ceived  a  desire  of  having  those  sacred  trea 
sures,  which  had  been  committed  to  his 
charge,  removed  to  a  safer  place,  owing  to 
the  frequently-recurring  ravages  of  infidels. 
The  Ulster  province  was  then  considered 
more  secure  than  any  other  part  of  Ireland, 
as  Xiall  Cuille,  King  of  Ireland,  was  sta 
tioned  there,  with  his  forces.  At  the  year 
863,  in  Dr.  U' Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  it  is  recorded,  that  "  Ceal- 
lach,  son  of  Ailill,  Abbot  of  Cill-dara,  and 
the  Abbot  of  la,  died  in  Pictland,"  vol.  i., 
pp.  500,  501.  He  appears  to  have  suc 
ceeded  Sedulius,  Abbot  of  Kildare,  who 
diecHn  828,  since  we  read  of  no  other  Abbot 
of  Kildare  that  lived  there  as  an  interme 
diary.  This  he  undertook  to  prove  in  Ap 
pendix  V.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida-,  n.  30,  p.  543. 
Also,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida?,  nn.  13,  14, 
PP-  S^S.  566,  ibid.  Also,  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
460,  461,  and  nn.  (f,  g),  pp.  452,  453,  and 
n.  (p),  pp.  466,  467,  with  pp.  442,  443. 

^  The  ancient  Dun  Keltair  at  this  place 
is  composed  of  three  great  earthen  ramparts, 
with  as  many  intervening  trenches.  These 
were  covered  with  a  growth  of  furze,  briars, 


112 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


sent  would  not  dare  to  inquire,  from  their  venerated  Apostle,  the  meaning  of 
this  portent ;  but,  they  applied  for  a  solution  of  it,  from  the  holy  virgin, 
Bri^id.  She  told  them  to  ask  their  common  father,  St.  Patrick,  for  an  ex 
planation.  The  latter  replied  to  her  :  "  You  and  I  are  equals,  therefore 
explain  this  mystery  to  the  people/'' 7°  St.  Brigid  then  spoke  to  the  assem 
blage  ;  she  told  them,  that  apparition  indicated  St.  Patrick's  spirit,  which 
went,  as  it  were,  before  to  visit  the  place  where  his  body  should  be  interred 
after  his  death. 7I  "  For,"  said  she,  "  where  this  meteor  first  rested  near  us, 
there  shall  the  body  of  our  holy  patron  lie  unburied  for  some  days,?2  and 
thence  shall  it  be  brought,  and  be  interred  in  Leathglaisse  Dun, 73  where  it 
shall  remain  to  the  day  ot  judgment."^  Holy  Patrick  then  requested  our 
saint  to  make  with  her  o\vn  hands  that  shroud,  in  which  his  body  should  be 
wrapped  after  death,  and  he  expressed  a  desire  to  arise  from  the  grave, 
clothed  with  it,  to  receive  his  eternal  reward.  This  request  our  holy  virgin 
promised  should  be  complied  with,  and  she  also  predicted  to  St.  Patrick, 
that  he  with  herself  and  the  celebrated  St.  Columkille,  another. great  Irish 
apostle,  not  then  born,  should  arise  for  judgment,  from  this  same  tomb.75 
The  body  of  Ireland's  illustrious  Apostle  was  afterwards  wrapped  in  that 
shroud  then  promised  him  by  St.  Brigid.  On  hearing  this  colloquy  and  pre 
diction,  the  crowd  assembled  praised  Almighty  God.70 

Subsequently,  as  we  are  told,  having  obtained  permission  from  the  holy 
Archbishop  Patrick  for  a  return  to  her  own  part  of  the  country,  St.  Brigid 
travelled  over  a  plain  called  Breagh,  within  the  Meathian  territory.  While 
she  dwelt  there  at  a  certain  cell,  it  would  seem  the  wife,  probably  of  Fer 
gus,77  the  son  of  Conall  Crimthann,  who  was  son  to  Niall,  King  ot  Ireland,?8 


sloe  and  hawthorn  bushes,  when  visited  by 
the  writer  in  May,  1874.  'l'ne  whole  is 
surrounded  with  marshy  meadows,  re 
claimed  from  the  waters  of  Lough  Strang- 
ford. 

7°  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  vii.,  p.  88. 

71  In  a  note,  on  this  passage,  Colgan  ob 
serves,  the  meaning  does  not  appear  to  be, 
that  St.  Patrick  s  soul,  not  yet  departed 
from  his  body,  actually  came  to  the  place 
of  his  future  interment,  but  that  the  meteor 
represented  it,  and  the  place  lor  its  future 
burial.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  n.  32,  p.  543. 

i-  See  ibid.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidce,  n. 
15,  p.  566. 

«  At  this  present  time,  in  the  small  and 
greatly  crowded  cemetery  of  Downpatrick, 
beside  the  old  cathedral,  a  hole  has  been 
opened  over  one  of  the  graves,  which  is 
supposed  by  the  people  to  have  been  the 
spot,  where  St.  Patrick's  body  had  been  in 
terred.  Under  this  impression,  the  Catho 
lics  of  the  town  and  neighbourhood  fre 
quently  remove  small  quantities  of  earth. 
Even  pilgrims  from  the  most  distant  parts 
of  the  world  obtain  portions,  which  they 
carry  away  as  souvenirs  of  Ireland's  great 
Apostle. 

74  The  author  of  St.  Patrick's  Fourth 
Life  appears  to  insinuate,  in  this  particular 
place,  what  is  asserted  by  Probus,  in  his 
Life  of  St.  Patrick,  lib.  ii.,  and  also  by 


Joceline,  cap.  189,  viz.,  that  St.  Patrick  died 
in  the  monastery  of  Saul,  and  that  his  body 
afterwards  had  been  interred  in  the  city  of 
Down.  Joceline  also  adds,  cap.  193,  that 
the  Irish  Apostle  s  body  remained  twelve 
days  unburied  at  the  former  place,  before  it 
was  brought  to  Down,  on  account  of  a  con 
test  that  took  place  between  the  Armagh 
and  Down  people,  who  respectively  con 
tended  for  the  possession  of  his  remains. 

?5  See  ibid.,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  xxx.,  p.  554.  Also,  Vita  Tertia  S. 
Brigidos,  cap.  lx.,  pp.  533,  534.  This  latter 
chapter  concludes  the  account  regarding  this 
linen  shroud  by  an  observation,  "in  loco 
constat."  On  this  passage,  Colgan  has  a 
note,  where  it  is  observed,  that  the  author 
of  the  Third  Life  must  have  flourished  at  a 
very  early  period  ;  for,  the  linen  shroud  in 
question  does  not  seem  to  have  been  in  ex 
istence,  for  several  ages,  previous  to  the 
seventeenth  century.  Ibid.,  n.  33,  p.  543. 

7a  To  these  foregoing  circumstances,  some 
allusion  seems  to  be  made,  and  with  a  suffi 
cient  amount  of  poetical  licence,  in  Vita 
Sexta  S.  Brigidte,  sees,  xlvi.,  xlviii.,  pp. 
592,  593.  Ibid. 

T>  This  son  to  King  Conall,  who  is  said 
to  have  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Breagh,  and 
whose  posterity  had  been  addicted  to  vio 
lence  and  bloodshed,  during  a  period  they 
ruled  over  the  kingdom,  can  be  no  other 
than  Ferguss,  surnamed  Kerrbheoil. 

78  Niall  the  Great  had  two  sons,  both  of 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


ir 


visited  her,  to  entreat  her  intercession.  The  noble-born  woman,  in  question, 
brought  a  silver  vessel,  as  a  gift  for  our  saint.  Brigid  sent  one  of  her  nuns 
to  wait  upon  that  distinguished  visitor,  who  stood  without  the  door.  For 
some  cause,  the  holy  abbess  herself  did  not  wish  to  appear."  The  nun 
soon  returned,  asking  why  her  superioress  would  not  see  the  queen  and 
pray  to  God  for  her,  that  thus  she  might  obtain  the  object  desired  by  the 
royal  visitor,  and  more  especially,  as  the  holy  virgin  had  often  asked  for 
like  favours,  on  behalf  of  peasants'  wives.  The  saint  of  God  replied,  that 
with  few  exceptions,  the  poor  and  rustics  serve  Almighty  God,  and  pray  to 
Him;  whilst,  only  in  few  instances,  is  it  found,  that  the  children  of  km^s 
are  not  malicious,  sons  of  blood,  and  libenmes.  However,  the  queen 
appears  to  have  obtained  the  favour  she  sought,  through  the  intervention  of 
our  holy  abbess.  To  her  prayers  is  attributed  the  birth  of  Diermit,80  son  to 
Fergus,81  and  afterwards  supreme  Monarch  of  Ireland.82  In  granting  her 
request,  however,  our  saint  told  the  nun,  that  the  queen's  posterity  must 
needs  be  addicted  to  deeds  of  blood,hed,83  and  must  incur  malediction,  even 
although  they  should  reign  for  a  lapse  of  years.8*  The  event  corresponded 
with  our  saint  s  prediction.^ 

This  illustrious  abbess  did  not  take  her  mind  or  her  attention  from  our 
Lord,  for  the  space  of  one  hour  at  any  time.  She  was  constantly  speakin" 
of  Him,  and  she  was  ever  thinking  of  Hun,  as  is  evident  from  her  own  life, 
and  also  from  the  life  of  St.  Brenainn,  Bishop  of  Gluam-fearta.86  She  was 
very  hospitable,  likewise,  and  exceedingly  charitable  towards  guests  and 
needy  people.^  Animated  with  this  kindly  and  generous  spirit  towards  her 
neighbour,  she  loved  God  to  such  a  degree,  that  her  mind  was  continually 
intent  on  His  Divine  perfections,  and  elevated  by  holy  contemplation.  One 


whom  were  called  Conall  or  Conald  ;  but, 
to  distinguish  them,  one  was  named  Conall 
Crimthann,  and  the  other  Conall  Gulban. 
In  the  time  of  St.  Brigid,  Conall  Crimthann, 
with  his  progeny,  ruled  over  the  extensive 
territories  ol  Breagh  and  Mcath.  Betore 
St.  Brigid's  birth  or  the  arrival  of  St.  Pa 
trick  in  Ireland,  Conall  (Julban  acquired 
ample  possessions  in  Ulster.  From  him,  the 
district,  called  Tir-Connell,  derived  its 
name. 

H  This  account  is  also  very  fully  related 
in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certain's  "'La  San- 
tita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 
nese. "  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  538  to  340. 

80 This  Diermit  had  three  sons,  Aidus 
Slane,  Colman,  surnamed  the  Great,  and 
Colman,  the  Less.  The  sons  and  posterity 
of  these  princes,  contending  for  the  sove 
reignty  of  Meath  and  of  Ireland,  engaged 
in  devastating  wars.  In  such  internecine 
contests,  the  kings  themselves  were  fre 
quently  killed  ;  as  lor  instance,  Suibhne,  son 
to  Colman  the  Less,  was  cut  off  by  Aidus 
Slane  ;  and  Conall,  son  to  the  same  Aidus, 
was  slain  by  ^inguss,  son  of  Colman  the 
Great  ;  Conall,  son  of  the  aforesaid  Suibhne, 
was  put  to  death  by  the  same  Aidus  Slane  ; 
while  Moelumius  and  Colchus,  two  sons  of 
^Enguss,  son  to  Colman  the  Great,  were 
killed  by  Diermit,  son  to  Aidus  Slane. 

81  In  the  present  case,  we  must  suppose 
Conall  Crimthainn's  son  alluded  to,  as  well 


because  Ferguss,  son  of  the  last-named 
prince,  then  ruled  over  Breagh  territory, 
while  the  sons  of  Conall  Gulban  reigned  in 
Ultonia  ;  as  also,  because  a  son  to  this 
Ferguss  was  the  famous  Diermit,  King  of 
Ireland. 

8j  When  the  writers  of  St.  Brigid's  Acts 
call  the  posterity  of  a  child,  born  through 
her  prayeis,  bloody,  they  seem  to  have  had 
reference  to  these  and  like  disastrous  issues. 
See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 
Tertia  S.  Brigida;,  n.  36.  pp.  543,  544. 

8jFrom  the  race  of  both  Conalls  issued 
many  kings,  not  only  over  those  provinces, 
which  have  been  already  alluded  to, 
but  who  even  were  monarchs  over  all  Ire 
land  ;  and,  it  may  be  observed,  on  account 
of  many  wars  waged  by  them,  in  acquiring 
and  defending  their  territories,  they  deserved 
to  be  called  men  of  violence. 

84  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval's  "  Histoire 
Le'gendaire  de  ITrlande,"  chap,  vi.,  p.  57. 
85 See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga," 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxiv., 
p.  555.  Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 
Ixiv.,  p.  534. 

80  See  "ActaSancti  Brendani."  Edited 
by  Right  Rev.  Patrick  F.  Moran,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  Ossory.  Vita  S.  Brendani,  cap. 
xvii.,  p.  17. 

87  See  "The  Martyrology  of  Donegal." 
Edited  by  Rev.  Drs.  Todd  and  Reeves,  pp, 
34,  35- 

1 


114 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


day,  a  pious  man  came  to  that  place,83  where  Brigid  was  accustomed  to  offer 
her  private  devotions,  when  he  found  her  hands  extended  towards  heaven, 
in  prayer.8?  Our  saint  was  so  entranced  in  God's  holy  presence,  that  she 
seemed  undisturbed,  in  the  least  degree,  by  shouts  of  certain  neighbouring 
villagers,  both  men  and  women.  These  were  engaged  in  driving  away 
some  calves  from  their  dams.  On  seeing  St.  Brigid's  attention  thus  wholly 
absorbed  in  the  Divine  presence,  her  devout  visitor  was  not  willing  to  disturb 
the  course  of  her  meditations.  After  the  lapse  of  an  hour,  however,  he 
returned,  and  said  to  her  :  "  O  Saint  of  God,  have  you  not  heard  great  out 
cries  raised  in  the  hamlet  ?"  She  answered  in  the  negative.  Her  interro 
gator  then  said  :  "  What,  therefore,  hath  become  of  thy  hearing  ?;;  St.  Brigid 
replied  :  "  As  God  is  my  witness,  at  the  time  you  speak  of,  I  heard  and 
beheld  Masses  celebrated  in  the  city  of  Rome,?0  and  at  the  tombs  of  the 
Apostles,  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.?1  I  very  much  desire,  likewise,  that  the 
whole  Roman  ritual  and  liturgy  may  be  brought  to  me."?2  Afterwards,  St. 
Brigid  sent  prudent  men  to  Rome,?3  that  thence  these  might  bring  the  same 
masses  and  ecclesiastical  rules.?*  At  Placentia?5  and  elsewhere,  she  is  said 
to  have  saved  her  messengers  by  miracles?6  from  impending  death.  The 
following  legendary  account,  regarding  this  mission,  is  found  in  a  commentary, 


88  It  is  assumed  to  have  been  in  Kildare, 
by  the    Abbate   Certani,    although   it    may 
have  been  at  some  other  place. 

89  This  narrative  is  very  fully  set    forth  in 
Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's   "  La  Santita 
Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 
Libro  Sesto,  pp.  472  to  479. 

90  Colgan  remarks,  that   her  words    could 
have  been    verified    in    a    double    manner  : 
First,  either  by  supposing  St.  Brigid  to  have 
been  miraculously  present,  in    the    two  dis 
tant  cities  of  Rome  and  of  Kildare — if  that 
be  the  place  designated — at  one  and  the  same 
time  ;  or,    secondly,    by   remaining,  in    one 
place   only,    she    could   have    seen  in  spirit 
what  occurred,  in  the  other  distant  city.    lie 
adds,  that  either  mode  is  possible,  and  that 
other  instances   are   to  be   found,   as  in  St. 
Anthony  of  Padua's  Acts,  which  bear  a  re 
semblance    to    what    is   here  related.      See 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  Vita  S.  Bri- 
gidae,  n.  54,  p.  544. 

91  The  author  of  her  metrical  acts  states, 
that  she  was  not  present   at  Rome   bodily, 
but  only  saw  by  a  mental  illumination  what 
took  place  in  that  city.     He  adds  : — 

"  Ofncium  sanctum  placuit  sibi  semper  ha- 

bendum, 
Unde   sacerdotes   Romam  transmisit   ad 

urbem, 
Sacra  adferre  nova  et  quodcumque   audi- 

verat  illic, 
Virginibus  cupiens  hsec  trad  ere  lege  pe- 

renni. 
Libros  compositos,  cantumque  et  munera 

multa 
Misit  Apostolicus   Brigidae,  concessit  ha- 

benda 

Tradidit  illasuis,  discendi  vertit  inusum," 
— Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  Ivi.  p.  594. 
Ibid, 


92  The  meaning  of  the  Latin   words,  in 
our  saint's  lives,  seems  to  indicate,  that  St. 
Brigid  desired    to    conform    entirely  to  the 
rites,    ceremonies    and    constitutions    of  the 
Roman    Church ;  wherefore,   the    Ritual  of 
Rome  and  the  Roman  order  bear  such  a.  sig 
nification. 

93  Colgan  says,   that   in  an   Irish  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,  at  chapter  50,  and  in  an  old  MS., 
called   by    our  antiquaries,    "  The  Book    of 
Hymns,"  in  a  commentary  to  a  certain  can 
ticle,  composed  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  and 
in  commentaries,  affixed  to  the  Martyrology 
of  Marianus  O'Gorman,  at  the   1st   of  Feb 
ruary,  there   are    various  particulars   given, 
regarding  the  legation  of  St.  Brigid. 

94  See  ibid. ,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib. 
ii.,  cap.  xiv. ,  p.  552.     Vita  Tertia  S.   Bri- 
gidse,  cap.  xci.,  pp.  538,   539>  ibid.     In  the 
latter  life,  to   the  account   contained   in  the 
text,    this   following   sentence  is    added  : — 
"  Item  dixit  post  aliquantum   tempus   Bri 
gida  ad  illos   viros ;  Ego   sentio  quod  qui- 
dam  commutaverunt  in  Roma  missas  post- 
quam  venistis  ab  ea.     Exite  iterum.     Et  illi 
exierunt  et  detulerunt  ut  invenerunt." 

95This  was  an  ancient  city  of  Italy.  In 
the  first  century  of  the  Christian  era,  Silius 
Italicus  alludes  to  it,  in  this  hexameter  line: 

"  Certavit      Mutinse     quassata     Placentia 

bello." 

— "  Punicorum, "  lib.  viii.,  v.  593.  It  is 
now  called  Placenza,  on  the  River  Trebia, 
not  far  from  the  Po.  A  very  interesting  de 
scription  of  it  may  be  found,  in  Rev.  John 
Chetwode  Eustace's  "Classical  Tour 
through  Italy,  An.  MDCCCII.,"  vol.  i.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  237  to  241. 

96  These  Colgan  did  not  think  necessary 
to  be  related,  in  his  own  notes.  See  "  Trias 
Thaumaturga,"  n.  55. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  115 

affixed  to  St.  Angus'  ".Metrical  Festilogy,"  at  the  ist  of  February.  On  a 
certain  day,  as  she  could  not  undertake  the  journey  herself,  St.  Brigid  sent 
seven  of  her  disciples  to  RomcV?  that  they  might  bring  from  thence  the 
Ordo  of  St.  Peter,  or  the  Roman  Rite.  But,  on  their  return  home,  they  en 
tirely  forget  what  they  had  then  learned.  To  whom  St.  Brigid  addressed 
these  words  :  "  The  Son  of  the  Virgin  knows,  that  however  great  your  dili 
gence  had  been,  it  is  altogether  useless.'-'  Again,  she  despatched  seven 
other  disciples,  and  with  a  like  result.  A  third  time,  she  sent  other  mes 
sengers,  and  joined  with  them  a  certain  blind //v/<V6'  of  her  own.  The  Al 
mighty  had  endowed  this  blind  man  with  the  singular  faculty  of  retaining 
permanently  in  his  recollection,  whatsoever  he  heard.  Being  overtaken  by 
a.  storm  in  the  Icciaiv0  or  Tyrhene^  sea,  they  cast  anchor.  Aitenvards,  being 
unable  to  raise  it,  the  crew  cast  lots  among  themselves,  to  determine  who 
should  commit  himself  to  the  deep  to  loose  its  fastenings.  Their  lot  fell 
upon  the  blind  man  already  mentioned.  On  diving  downwards,  he  appeared 
no  more,  until  other  sailors,  driven  by  the  same  storm,  cast  anchor  in  this 
place.  _  When  they  wound  it  upwards  again,  they  observed  this  blind  man 
ascending  with  their  anchor,  and  bearing  with  him  the  Ecclesiastical  Rite  or 
Ordo,  and  a  bell,  atterwards  called,  Cloc  an  mic  daill,  or  "  bell  of  the  blind 
son."  At  a  time  this  legend  was  in  vogue,  it  was  believed,  St.  Brigid's  fa 
mily  had  still  possession  ot  this  bell,1-  and  that  they  used  a  Ritual,  called 
the  _"  Ordo  Place-minus/""  Uuamt  though  the  form  of  this  legend  may  be, 
yet  it  probably  shadows  the  substance  of  a  conviction,  that  St.  Brigid,  like 
her  beloved  teacher  St.  Patrick,  clung  with  fidelity  and  affection  to  the  rites 
and  practices  of  the  Roman  Church,  the  true  fountain  and  centre  of 
Christian  union. 


CHAPTER     VIII. 

ILLAND,  THE  WARRIOR  PRINCE  OF  LEINSTER— ST.  BRIGID  VISITS  HER  FATHER,  DUB- 
TACH,  AND  PROTECTS  HIS  FAMILY— I  A\  OURS  ACCORDED  TO  THE  HOLY  ABBESS — 
SHE  VISITS  KING  ILLAND  AND  BLESSES  HIM— THE  VICTORIES  OF  THIS  DYNAST 
OVER  HIS  ENEMIES  — THE  BOKUMIIA  LAIG  HEAN—  WARS  THROUGHOUT  IRELAND 

DURING  ST.  BRIGID'S  LIFETIME— DEATH   OF    KING    ILLAND— VICTORY   OBTAINED 

AFTER    HIS   DEATH   BY   THE   LAGENIANS,    THROUGH    THE     SPECIAL     PROTECTION   OF 
ST.    LRIGID. 

AGAIN  must  we  regard  St.  Brigid  as  having  returned  to  Leinster,  where  the  chief 
actions  of  her  religious  life  took  place.     Soon  after  the  death  of  Crimthann,1 

"Very  numerous   views   of  this   city  by  conserua  quel  libro  col  campanello  nel  Mo- 

ranesi  are  engraved   in  R.  Vcnuti's  "Ac-  nasterio  Killdariense    chiamandosi  da  tutti 

curata  e  Succinta  Descrizione  Tupografica  e  Cloe-an-Mic-Daill,  cioe  Campana  del  figlio 

Istonca  di  Roma   Moderna,"   published  in  cieco.'— "La    Santita  Prodigiosa.    Vita  di 

four  410  vols.      Roma,  A.D.  1760.  8.  Urigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Sesto,  p.  478. 

1  he    Iccius    Portus  of  Ptolemy  is    sup-  '<"  1  lie  account  adds  that  Placentia  was  a 

posed  to  be  Calais  in  Picardy  ;    so  that  the  city  near  the  Iccian,    or  more  correctly  the 

sea  between  that  port  of  France  and  Dover  is  Tyrrhenian  Sea.and  that  there  St.  Brigid  was 

usually  distinguished  as  the  "  Iccium  Mare."  venerated,      See  Colgan's   "  Trias  '1  hauma- 

1  his  was  called  by  the  ancients  md if-  turga,"  Appendix  Secunda  ad  Acta  S.  Bri- 

ferently    "  Tuscum  Mare,   vel  Tyrrhenuin,  gid.e,  cap.  xliv.,  p.  608. 
quod  et  Infernum."     It  lies  on  the  western          CHAPTER    vin.— 'This    warlike    prince 

shore   of    Italy.      See  Wilkinson's  "Atlas  seems  to  have  chiefly  resided  in  Southern 

Classica.      Map  24.     Italia  Antiqua.  Leinster,  for   we  are   told,   that  he  warred 

rhe  Abb-ate  Certani   says:— "  Si  con-  with  and  subdued   the   Northern   Leinster- 

seruo  lunghissimo  tempo,  e  forse  ancora  si  men.     After  the  death  of  Oilioll  Molt,  he 


Il6  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


the  son  of  Enna  Kinscllagh,  while  Finnchadh,2  and  afterwards  his  son 
Fraech,3  ruled  in  that  territory,  the  star  of  lolland  or  Illand*  appears  to 
have  been  in  the  ascendant,  throughout  the  province.  This  enterprising 
hero  was  the  son  of  Dunlaing,s  who  preceded  him  in  the  government,  at 
least  of  its  northern  division.  Illand  and  his  brother  Ailill6  received  bap 
tism  at  the  hands  of  St.  Patrick. 7  After  St.  Brigid  had  taken  possession  of 
Kildare,  as  may  be  inferred  from  accounts  left  us  in  her  acts,  that  religious 
daughter  paid  a  visit  to  the  house  of  her  father,  Dubtach,  after  a  long  inter 
val  of  absence  from  her  parents,8  Her  father  and  all  her  relatives  greatly 
rejoiced  at  her  arrival.  No  mention  is  made  of  her  mother  as  then  living.^ 
Dubtach  earnestly  desired  her  to  remain  that  night  under  his  roof.  With 
this  request  she  complied.  During  her  sleep,  an  angel  sent  from  God  ap 
peared  to  her.  Then  awaking,  she  heard  these  words  addressed  to  her  : 
"Arise  immediately,  and  arouse  your  father,  with  his  whole  family,  and 
your  religious  daughters,  now  sleeping  ;  for,  with  an  intention  of  murdering 
your  father  and  his  household,  an  enemy  approaches.  But,  the  Lord  will 
prevent  such  intention,  on  your  account.  Depart  instantly  from  this  house, 
for  the  foe  will  soon  set  it  on  fire."  Our  saint  obeyed  this  portentous  man 
date,  and  warning  the  inmates,  these  fled.  On  approaching,  their, enemy 
was  greatly  disappointed,  not  finding  any  of  the  family  present.  Dubtach 
and  others,  on  seeing  the  house  blazing  at  a  distance,  cried  out :  "  0  holy 
Brigid,  thy  blessing  hath  preserved  us  this  night  from  impending  death.  We 
are  now  conscious  of  all  those  wonderful  things  predicted  concerning  thee." 
Our  saint  replied  :  "  Not  only  on  this  night,  but  so  long  as  you  live,  blood 
shall  not  be  shed  within  your  dwelling."  This  prediction  proved  true  on  a 
subsequent  occasion,  for  when  a  certain  man  intended  to  strike  a  woman 
there,  his  hand  became  stiff  as  he  tried  to  extend  it.  Nor  could  he  draw  it 
back,  until  he  had  abandoned  that  wicked  intention.10 

The  following  day,  one  of  her  spiritual  daughters  said  to  our  saint :  "  I 
pray,  that  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  may  always  assist  you,  as  he  has  done 

was  even  regarded  as  King    of  Ireland    for  Also,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  Vita 

a  time,  if  we  are  to  credit  a  statement  con-  Quarta  S.  Brigidce,  n.  5,  p.  564. 

tained  in  the  Vita  S.  Kierani,   cap.  xix.,  p.  s  Hence,  he  is  usually  called  Illand,  Mac 

460.      See  Colgan's   "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hi-  Dunlaing,  or  Illand,  son  of  Dunking,  in  the 

berni;e,"v.  Martii.  Irish  Annals.    He  seems  to  have  commenced 

2  At  the  battle  of  Graine  or  Crane,  in  the  his  rule  over  Leinster,  about  A.  n.  486. 
north    of  Kildare,  this  lord  of  Hy-Kinnsel-  6  Both  brothers  were  probably  very  young 
lach  fell,  A.D.  480,  according  to  Dr.   O'Do-  men,  when  St.  Patrick  came  to  their  father, 
novan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  Dunlaing,  then  living  on  the  Dun,  at  Naas. 
i.,   pp.    150,    151.     Eochaidh   Mac  Coirpre  7  When  the  Irish  Apostle  visited  Naas,  on 
was    the    victor,  in   this    battle,   which  was  his  way  to  Minister.      See  Colgan's  "Trias 
among  the  Lagenians  themselves,  A.D.  484,  Thaumaturga,"  Tertia  Vita  S.  Patricii,  cap. 
according  to  the    "  Chronicum  Scotorum,''  Iviii.,  p    25  and  n.  52>  P-  32-     Also  Septima 
edited  by  William  M.  Hennessy,  pp.  30,  31.  Vita  S.  Patricii,  Pars  iii.,  cap.  xvi.,  p.  151. 

3  He  fell,  however,  in  the  second  battle  of  Also,  Miss  Mary  F.  Cusack's   "Life  of  St. 
Graine,  fought  A.D.  492,    Eochaidh,  son  of  Patrick,    Apostle    of  Ireland."      The  Irish 
Coirpre,  being  the  victor.    See  "  Chronicum  Tripartite  Life,    translated    by  William  M. 
Scotorum,"  edited  by  William  M.  Hennessy,  Hennessy,  part  iii.,  p.  458. 

pp.  32,  33.  8  The  following  account  is  given,  at  great 

4  He  is  regarded  as  the  fifth  Christian  king  length,    in  Abbate   D.    Giacomo   Certani's 
of  Leinster.      This   would   appear  from   a  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.    Bri- 
Catalogue  of  Kings,  belonging  to  that  pro-  gida  Ibernese."     Libro   Sesto,  pp.  456  to 
vince.       According  to  that  catalogue,  and  463. 

other  authorities,  he  reigned  30  years.  Thus  9  See  "The   Life   of  St.   Brigid,"  by  an 

his  death  is  found  recorded  :   "  The  age  of  Irish  Priest,  chap,  v.,  p.  58. 

Christ  506.     The  third  year   of  Muirchear-  I0  The  foregoing  accounts   are  also  sub- 

tach.   Illann,  son  of  Dunlaing,  King  of  Lein-  stantially  contained   in    the    Vita    Sexta  S. 

ster,  died."     See  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  Brigidse,  sec.    liii.,  pp.  593,   594.     "Trias 

the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.   164,   165.  Thaumaturga." 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  117 


during  the  past  night,  by  the  liberation  of  yourself,  your  father  and  his  fa 
mily."  To  whom  the  spouse  of  Christ  returned  for  answer  : — "  Not  only  dur 
ing  this  night,  but  in  every  age,  I  shall  have  the  Lord's  assistance,  in  all  things, 
through  the  ministry  of  His  angels.11  For  daily  do  I  experience  a  great  joy 
of  spirit,  while  I  hear,  through  Divine  inspiration,  holy  songs,12  spiritual 
canticles,  and  strains  of  heavenly  organs.13  I  am  also  able  to  hear  every 
day  those  sacred  Masses,  which  are  offered  in  honour  of  the  Almighty,  in 
distant  parts  of  the  world,  in  like  manner,  as  if  I  were  present  at  their  cele 
bration  ;'*  while,  the  angels  of  God  present  my  prayers  to  Heaven  day  and 
night.  Wherever  I  am,  the  Lord  ahvays  hears  me,  as  I  will  show  by  the 
two  following  incidents.15  On  a  particular  occasion,  a  certain  woman,  who 
was  a  leper  and  infirm,  asked  me  to  bring  her  water,  and  to  perform  some 
other  charitable  offices,  in  her  necessities.  Whereupon,  I  blessed  the 
vessel,  which  was  filled  with  water,  and  presented  it,  telling  her  to  place 
that  vessel  between  herself  and  the  wall,  so  that  no  other  person  should  be 
able  to  touch  it,  until  her  return.  But,  in  my  presence,  the  Angel  of  the 
Lord  blessed  that  water,  and  it  was  turned  into  whatever  kind  of  liquid  that 
leper  desired  ;  thus,  it  had  the  taste  of  honey,  when  this  was  wished  for,  and 
again  the  taste  of  wine,  of  beer,  of  milk,  or  of  any  other  liquid,  that  infirm  woman 
especially  required.  Again,  when  I  was  a  little  girl,  I  fashioned  an  altar-stone 
in  honour  of  my  God,  yet  with  child-like  intent.  Then,  an  Angel  of  the 
Almighty,  in  my  presence,  perforated  the  stone  at  its  four  angles,  and  placed 
at  each  of  them  four  wooden  feet.'6  That  you  may  glorify  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  have  mentioned,  O  daughter,  these  two  interpositions  of  my  Angel 
Guardian.  Thus,  the  grace  of  God  hath  always  continued  with  me."1? 

Already  had  the  saintly  daughter  secured  the  respect  of  her  dynast  so 
vereign  and  protector  Illand,ld  son  of  Dunlaing.  During  this  visit  of  the 
Brigid,  her  father  Dubtach  said  to  her  :  '•  U  pious  maid,  go  to  our  king,  and 
ask  him  to  give  me  as  a  valuable  and  perpetual  gift,  that  sword  which  he  lent 
me  for  a  time.'''"-?  In  compliance  with  the  request  of  her  father,  the  dutiful 
Brigid  set  out  on  a  visit  to  the  Leinster  king,  who  then  dwelt  in  the  plain 
of  the  Liffcy.10  When  our  saint  rested  betore  the  gate  of  the  regal  city, 

11  See   "  The  Life   of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  lunque  parte  del   Cattolico  Mondo." — "La 

Iri.-,li  Priest,  chap.  v. ,  pp.  59,  oo.  Sanlita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 

l'J  In  the  Vita    Sexta  S.  Brigidse,   sec.  li.,  ne^e, "  Libro  Sesto,   p.  464. 

P-    593.  "Trias    Thaumaturga,"   we   have  '5  The  visit  to  (Jonnaught — without  any 

the  following  lines  : —  very  good  warrant,   however — is  placed  by 

the    Irish    Priest's   "Life    of    St.    Brigid," 

"  Organa  dulcisono  resonant  crdestia  cantu.  after  this  visit  to  Dubtach.     See  chap,  v., 

Hoc  pueri  pariter  cantantes,  hoc  seniores,  p.  60. 

Angelici  populi  respondent,  Alleluia."  10 See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of 

the  Saints,'' vol.  ii.     February  i.,  p.  17. 

13  The  invention  of  organs  dates  to   are-  I?  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga," 

mote  antiquity,  and  to   a  period  long  ante-  Vita  Cjuarta    S.    Brigid.e,    lib.  ii.,  cap.  vi., 

cedent    to    the    Christian    era.      Bellannine  vii.,  viii.,  ix.,  p.  551.     Nearly  the  same  ac- 

stales,  that  organs  were  used  in  Church  ser-  counts  are  contained  in  the   Vita   Tertia  S. 

vices,  about  the  year6(  \  ?.s  Platina  relates  Brigida.',  cap.  Ixxxvii.,  Ixxxviii.,  Ixxxix.,   p. 

irom  the   Pontifical.     When  Pope  Vitalian  538,  ibid. 

reformed  Roman  Church   music,    he  intro-  1B  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

duced  organs  as  instruments  for  accompani-  St.  Brigid,  pp.  30,  31,  the  King  of  Leinster, 

ment.     Other  authors  refer  their  introduc-  to   whom   the   holy   abbess  went,  is  called 

tion   in   Church   services  to  a  later  period.  Ailill,  son  of  Dunlaing.      Perhaps,  he  and 

See  the  "Encyclopaedia  Britannica,"   vol.  his  brother  held   a  joint   sovereignty  over 

xiii.,  pp.  485  to  489.     Dublin  edition.  Leinster,  or  what  seems  more   likely,  Ailill 

J*The  Abbate  D.    Giacomo  Certani  has  may  have  preceded  llland  in  his  term  of  rule, 

it:  "  Merce  dell' Angelo  mio  assisto  gior-  19  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 

nalmente  a  quanti  sacrificii  s'offrono  a  Dio  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Jber- 

nella  Catolica  chiesa.     Ascolto,  e  veggo  le  nese,"  Libro  Sesto,  pp.  465  to  467. 

Messe,  che  si  celebrano  in  Roma,  e  in  qua-  20Most  probably  at  iN'aas,   where  there 


ii8  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


with  her  virgins,  one  of  the  king's  servants  came  to  her.  He  said,  "  If  you 
release  me  from  my  bondage  to  the  king,  both  I  and  my  family  shall  become 
your  servants  for  ever,  while  myself,  my  posterity  and  kindred  shall  likewise 
make  profession  of  Christianity."  The  holy  virgin  said,  she  should  prefer 
his  request  before  the  monarch,  into  whose  presence  she  was  soon  con 
ducted.  The  king  then  asked  the  holy  virgin  what  had  been  her  object  in 
seeking  this  interview.  She  replied,  her  father  desired  to  possess  that  sword, 
which  had  been  lent  to  him,  as  a  perpetual  gift,  whilst  on  her  own  part, 
she  petitioned  the  king  to  manumit  or  transfer  to  herself  the  slave  and  his 
family.  Then  said  the  king  :  "  You  require  from  me  a  most  precious  sword, 
O  saint,  but  what  better  favour  will  you  accord  me,  should  I  grant  both  of 
these  boons  ?"  The  holy  virgin  asked  him,  what  he  should  think  about 
obtaining  eternal  life,  and  of  having  kings  in  his  line,  to  the  end  of  time. 
The  king  then  told  her,  he  did  not  desire  that  life,  of  which  he  had  yet  no 
experience,  nor  did  he  care  for  the  prosperity  of  those  children,  who  were 
destined  to  succeed  him.  But,  he  asked  for  two  other  favours.  These  were, 
that  he  should  enjoy  a  long  life,  in  this  world,  which  he  loved,  and  that  he 
should  be  a  conqueror,  in  all  his  wars.21  He  told  Brigid,  that  a  great  war 
was  then  pending,  between  the  people  of  Leinstcr  and  the  race  of  Cuinn. 
The  holy  abbess  assured  him,  that  both  those  desires  should  be  obtained, 
when  she  returned  home,  witli  those  favours  she  asked  for  granted  to  her. 
Before  leaving,  she  imparted  her  blessing  to  the  king.22 

Shortly  afterwards,  Illand  with  a  small  army,  entered  the  territories  of  his 
enemies,  who  belonged  to  the  posterity  of  Cuind.23  Having  reached  the 
plain  of  Breagh,2*  he  was  there  met  by  a  well-appointed  force.  When  he 
saw  the  number  of  men  drawn  out  to  meet  him,  the  King  of  Leinster 
called  aloud  to  his  soldiers  :  "  Stand  firm,  and  invoke  St.  Brigid's  assistance, 
for  she  will  redeem  her  promises."  With  cries  that  reached  the  heavens, 
his  whole  band  called  out  the  holy  virgin's  name,  and  immediately  com 
menced  their  onset  of  battle.  The  King  of  Leinster  had  a  glorious  vision 
of  holy  Brigid,  preceding  him  in  the  field,  and  holding  a  staff  in  her  right 
hand,  while  a  pillar  of  glittering  flame  reached  from  her  head  towards 
heaven.2*  A  sudden  panic  seized  on  the  Neill  forces.  They  immediately 
fled.  The  King  of  Leinster  and  his  victorious  army  gave  thanks  to  God 
and  to  St.  Brigid.  To  her  patronage  they  mainly  attributed  the  glory  of  this 
day.26  This  great  victory  over  the  northern  forces  was  the  prelude  to  other 
famous  achievements.  Illand  is  said  to  have  fought  thirty  battles  in  Ireland, 
and  eight2?  or  nine28  in  Britain.  In  all  of  these  conflicts,  he  proved  victo 
rious.  A  belief  entertained,  regarding  his  invincible  prowess,  caused  several 

was  formerly   a   seat   of  the  kings  of  Lein-  O'Dubhagain  and  Giolla  na  naomh  O'Hui- 

ster.      See  "The  Parliamentary  Gazetteer  dhrin."     Edited  by  Dr.   John  O'Donovan, 

of  Ireland,    vol  in.,  p.  3.  n.  272>  pp. 
1 


xxxviii. 


.  .        >       .               t              . 

1  See  lAbbate  D.  Giacomo  CertaniV'La  ^Probably   the   plain,   known   as  Magh 
bantita  I  rodigiosa.  Vitadi  S.  Brigida  Iber-  Breacraighe,   comprising  the  northern  part 
ne^'Q  Llbl'°  Sesto>  PP-  467  to  470.  of  Moygoish  barony,  in  the  county  of  West- 

2  borne    of   the   foregoing  incidents    are  meath,'   and    extending   into  the  county  of 
briefly  related  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Longford,     See  ibid.,  n.  273,  p.  xxxviii. 

ȣL      '  Bngld)  Pp-  3I'  32'  25See  Abbate  D-  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 


»  '  - 

3  These  seem  to  have  been  the  O'Cuinns  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brio-ida  Iber- 

or  O  Quins   of   Hunter  Gillagan.      These  nese,"  Libro  Sesto.  pp.  470,  471 
were  distributed  among  the  baronies  of  Ar-  *  See   Colgan's    '  '  Trias   Thaumaturga," 

dagh   Moydow,  and  Shrule,   in   the  county  Quarta  Vita  S.  BrigidjE,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  x.,  xi., 

?Ln'°T?S     n'  •    1    £gh    disP°ssessed    by  P-  SSI-     Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigid*,  cap.   xc. 

the  O  Farrells  m  the  fifteenth  century,  their  p.  539. 

posterity  are  yet  numerous  in  that  locality.  *i  According  to  the  Fourth  Life. 

lopographical  Poems  of  John          2S  According  to  the  Third  Life. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


119 


kings  to  court  his  alliance  with  large  gifts.  During  these  wars  and  rumours 
of  wars,_  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns,  at  Kildare,  appear  not  to  have  been  dis 
turbed,  in  the  least,  so  far  as  the  even  current  of  a  religious  life  passed  on ; 
nor  do  we  hear  of  hostile  clamour  awakening  that  repose,  so  grateful  to 
their  holy  inmates,  around  the  precincts  of  her  privileged  cloisters. 

The  Borumha  Laighean  or  "  Leinster  cow-tribute"2^  was  a  fruitful  source 
of  warfare  between  the  sovereigns  of  Ireland  and  the  men  of  Leinster,  not 
only  before,  but  during  and  long  after  the  lifetime  of  St.  BrigicU0  From 
this  irritating  cause,  probably  originated  most  of  those  petty  wars,  carried 
on  with  such  frequent  and  obstinate  persistence  for  so  many  centuries. ^  The 
renowned  warrior  King  of  Ireland,  Tuathal  Teachtmhar,32  who  is  said  to 
have  fought  no  less  than  133  battles  in  the  different  provinces,  reigned  thirty 
years,33  during  the  close  of  the  first,  and  he  was  slain  after  the  commence 
ment  of  the  second  century,34  A.D.  io6,35  He  is  related  to  have  imposed 
the  degrading  and  oppressive  Borumha,  or  cow  tribute,  on  the  Leinster 
peopled6  During  the  reign  of  King  Cormac,"  son  of  Art,  about  A.D.  241, 
is  recorded  a  great  outrage,  perpetrated  or  permitted  by  Dunlang,  son  to 
Enna  Niadh,  King  of  Leinster.  He  appears  to  have  assaulted  the  royal 
seat  at  Tara,  and  on  the  western  slope  of  the  hill,  at  Claeniearta/8  where 
the  apartments  for  females  had  been  erected/9  thirty  royal  maidens/0  with 
three  hundred  women  servants,  had  been  massacred.  This  happened  on 
Saman's  day.-*1  To  avenge  this  cowardly  and  cruel  act/2  King  Cormac  ex 
ecuted,  at  the  same  time,  twelve  of  the  Leinster  chiefs,  who  were  thought 
or  proved  to  be  guilty  of  it,  while  he  increased  the  Leinster  tribute,  which 
already  was  so  very  onerous.  Yet,  this  annual  exaction  was  impolitic,  as  it 


_  2'  There  is  a  very  curious  Irish  tract,  in 
tituled,  "  Borumha  Laighean,"  on  the  ori 
ginal  imposition  and  final  remittance  of  this 
impost,  preserved  in  the  Look  of  Lecan. 
Another  copy  of  it  may  be  found  in  a  vellum 
manuscript,  classed  II,  2,  iS,  in  the  Library 
of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  A  copy  had 
been  prepared  for  publication  by  the  Irish 
Archaeological  Society,  but  it  has  not  yet 
issued  from  the  press. 

3-  See  Townsend  Young's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  chap.  i. ,  pp.  15,  16. 

31  See  "Three  Fragments,  copied  from 
ancient  sources,"  by  Dubhaltach  Mac  Fir- 
bisigh.  Edited  by  Dr.  O'Donovan,  pp.  32 
to  35- 

3-  See  an  account  of  his  reign  in  L'Abbe 
Ma-Geoghegan's  "Histoire  de  ITrlande, 
Ancienne  et  Moderne,"  tome  i.,  part  i., 
chap.  vi. ,  pp.  12610  130. 

33  Beginning   A.D.    76,    according  to  Dr. 
O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters," 
vol.  i. ,  pp.  98,  99. 

34  See  a  very  interesting  account  regarding 
the  imposition  of  the   Leinster  cow-tribute, 
during  the  reign  of  this  monarch,  in  O'Ma- 
hony's    Keating's     "History    of    Ireland," 
book  i.,  part  i.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  297  to  306. 

35 According  to  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "An 
nals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  98 
to  101. 

36  This  was  done  on  account  of  an  act  of 
treachery,  perpetrated  by  a  king  of  Leinster 
towards  the  two  daughters  of  the  monarch 
Tuathal.  In  revenge,  he  devastated  Lein 


ster,  and  when  the  people  of  that  province 
had  submitted  to  him,  he  exacted  "the  fol 
lowing  /}';/<.•  or  Boroimhe,  viz.,  600  Cows, 
600  Hogs,  600  Sheep,  600  Ounces  of  Silver, 
600  Mantles,  and  600  Tun  of  Iron,  Yearly; 
which  was  paid  during  the  Reigns  of  40 
Kings  successively  thereafter." — MacCur- 
tin's  "  Brief  Discourse  in  Vindication  of  the 
Antiquity  of  Ireland,"  part  i.,  pp.  92,  93. 

37  See  a  very  full  account  of  events   chro 
nicled  under  this  monarch's  reign  in  O'Ma- 
hony's     Keating's    "  History    of    Ireland," 
book  i.,  part  i.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  328  to  360. 

38  The  exact  position  of  this  site  will   be 
found  on  the  admirable    map,  which   illus 
trates  "  Monuments  of  Tara   Hill   restored 
from    Ancient   Documents.''     See  "Trans 
actions  of  the  Royal    Irish  Academy,"  vol. 
xviii.      Antiquities,  sec.  iii.      "On  the  His 
tory  and   Antiquities    of   Tara    Hill."     By 
George  Petrie,  Esq.,  R. H.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  p. 
152.  This  most  erudite  paper  was  read  24th 
ol  April,  and  8th  and  22nd  of  May,  1837. 

39  In  the  "  Dinnseanchus,"  where  the  two 
Claenfearts  are  placed   to   the  west  of  Rath 
Grainne,  it  is  stated,  that  the  virgins  were 
slaughtered  in  the  Southern  Claenieart.  See 
ibid.,  p.  142. 

40  It  has  been  supposed,  these  were  vestal 
virgins.     See  ibid.,  p.  218. 

41  See  ibid.,  p.  151. 

42  Cuan  O'Lochain,  an  ancient  poet,  re 
cords    ClAoinferiCA    nA    claon     CAHIJTII, 
which  is  Englished  "The  Claenferts  of  the 
treacherous  covenant."     See  ibid.,  p.  144. 


120 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


was  unjust ;  for,  constituted  as  Ireland  had  then  been,  not  alone  difficulties 
were  experienced  in  distributing  the  assessment,  but  in  collecting  it,  at  stated 
intervals.  Still,  the  Leinstermen  were  protected  from  the  depredations  of 
their  southern  adversaries,  the  Munstermen,«  by  Cairbre  Liffeachair,44  the 
son  of  King  Cormac.  The  tanists  and  people  of  Leinster  do  not  seem  to 
have  been  sufficiently  powerful  to  resist  effectively  the  Ard-righs  of  the  king 
dom,  until  after  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into  Ireland,45  when,  under  the 
leadership  of  the  renowned  Crimthan  Kinsellagh,  dynast  of  South  Leinster, 
and  of  Illand,  the  enterprising  and  valiant  dynast  of  Northern  Leinster,  the 
Lagenians  began  to  cope  with  the  last  Pagan  monarch,  Laeghaire.46  The 
latter  potentate  appears  to  have  been  tenacious  of  his  prerogatives  ;  for, 
during  his  term  of  rule,  he  inflicted  a  great  defeat  on  the  Lagenians,  towards 
the  middle  of  the  fifth  century.  The  very  year  in  which  it  has  been  sup 
posed  St.  Brigid  was  born,4?  viz.  A.D.  456,  Leinster  is  said  to  have  been  de 
vastated.  Other  writers  place  this  raid  at  an  earlier  period.  Such  reverse 
seems  to  have  been  retrieved,  about  A.D.  460,  at  the  battle  of  Athdara,48 
fought  by  the  Leinstermen,  against  Laogaire.4?  The  place  is  said  to  have 
been  in  Kildare  County.50  This  defeat  of  the  monarch  Laoighaire  is  re 
ferred  to  A.D.  457, 5I  458, 52  459,  46i,s3  or  465, 54  by  other  authorities.55  It  is 
said,  that  Cremthann  was  leader  of  the  Lagenians.56  While  some  accounts 
refer  the  death  of  King  Laeghaire57  to  A.D.  458. s8  other  writers  place  it 
at  A.D.  461,  or  462,59  or  464^°  while  another  annalist  has  it,  so  late  as  470. 6l 
The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  refer  to  A.D.  464,  the  first  war  of  Airdacorann, 
which  was  carried  on  by  the  Lagenians,62  while  the  battle  of  Ard-Coran63  is 


43  See  Dr.   O'Donovan's    "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  118,  119. 

44  The  events  of  his  reign  are  set  forth  in 
O'Flaherty's     "  Ogygia,"     Pars,   iii.,    cap. 
Ixx. ,  Ixxi.,  Ixxii.,  pp.  341  to  357. 

45  In  the  following  resume  Q{  wars,  noted 
throughout  the  subsequent  epoch,  it  is  often 
difficult  to  determine  the  special  causes  that 
gave  rise  to  them.     Yet,  it  will  be  seen,  for 
the  most    part,    these   battles    were    fought 
either  on  the  northern  parts  of  Leinster,   or 
within  the  territories  of  Meath.      The  most 
vengeful  and  inveterate  raids  were  between 
the  Hy-Nialls  or   Leith   Cuinn  people,   and 
the  Lagenians  or  Leinstermen.     It  must  be 
observed,  if  our  Irish  kings  and  toparchs  ad 
vised  or  accepted  war — unlike  some  modern 
statesmen — they  were  obliged  personally  to 
assume  the  post   of  danger  as  commnnders- 
in-chief,  when  their  clansmen  were  called  to 
the  field  of  slaughter. 

46  See  the  events  of  his  reign  chronicled 
in  Dr.    O'Donovan's   "Annals    of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  128  to  145. 

47  According   to   the    '•  Annals   of    Inis- 
fallen." 

48  On  the  River  Barrow.     See  Haverty's 
"  History  of  Ireland,  Ancient  and  Modern," 
chap,  ix.,  p.  74. 

49  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum   Scriptores,"    tomus    ii.     "  Annales 
Inisfalenses, "p.  3. 

_s°  See  L'Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "His- 
toire  d'Irlande,"  tome  i.,  part  ii.,  chap,  ii., 
P-  263, 

51  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  142,  143. 


52  The  "  Annales   Ultonienses"  place   the 
battle  of  Cath  Atha  Dara  at  this  year  or  at 
A.D.    459.       See   Dr.    O'Conor's    "Rerum 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  4. 

53  Ibid. 

54  See  "  Annales  Buclliani,"  or   "  Annals 
of  Boyle,  "p.    2,  tomus    ii.     Dr.  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum   Hibernicarum   Scriptores." 

55  The   "  Chronicum   Scotorum"  has  this 
event  at  A.D.  459.     See  W.  M.  Hennessy's 
edition,  pp.  26,  27. 

5° The  "Ulster  Annals"  make  a  third 
entry  of  this  battle,  at  A.D.  461,  where  they 
add,  we  must  suppose  regarding  the  Leinster 
men,  "  quibus  Cremthan  tune  pre-erat." 

5?  At  Greallach  Daiphil,  on  the  side  of 
Cais  in  Magh  Life,  according  to  the  "  Chro 
nicum  Scotorum,"  edited  by  William  M. 
Hennessy,  pp,  26,  27. 

58  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  144,  145. 

5JThe  "Annals  of  Ulster"  have  this 
event  at  either  year,  461  and  462,  while  the 
place  is  called  Greallagh  Griainl,  near  or 
beyond  the  territory  of  Cassie,  in  the  plain 
of  the  Liffey.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  4. 

60  The  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen"  state,  that 
at  A.D.  464,  the  death  of  Laogire  Mac  Neill 
took   place    at    Grallach-da-ball,     between 
two  hills,    called   Hibernia    and    Albania. 
See  ibid,,  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

61  See  the  "Annals   of  Boyle,"  at  A.D. 
470,  p.  3,  ibid, 

62  See  Dr.    O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  5- 

63  This  place  has  not  been  identified. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


121 


assigned  to  A.D.  467,  by  the  "Annals  of  Inisfallen."6*  In  the  year  464,^ 
or  468, 66  the  Leinstermen  were  again  in  arms,  against  the  supreme  monarch. 
The  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen"  refer,  however,  to  A.D.  47 1,6?  that  war  of  Dumai 
Achir,*-8  according  to  the  book  of  Cuanac,  which  was  carried  on  against 
Oilill  Molt,  King  of  Ireland.6?  Illand,  the  Prince  of  North  Leinster,  was 
victor  in  this  engagement.?0  The  boxing-battle  of  Bri-Ele,  supposed  to  have 
taken  place  at  the  hill  of  Croghan,  in  the  King's  County,  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  a  very  formidable  encounter.  Probably  it  was  only  a  pugilistic 
contest,  between  certain  selected  champions  of  Leinster  and  Meath.  The 
monarch,  Oilill  Molt,  seems  to  have  been  present,  either  as  a  combatant,  or 
as  a  spectator.  Its  occurrence  is  variably  referred  to  A.D.  468,7*  473,  475, 
47i,72  or  481.73  The  Irish  poet,  Gilda  Moclud  of  Ardbraccan,  states,  that 
after  Oilill-Molt  had  passed  twenty  years  of  a  victorious  life,74  Lugad  the 
Strong,  and  the  son  of  Laogaire,  slew  him  by  a  most  lamentable  action.75 
This  occurred  at  the  battle  of  Ocha,?6  to  which  allusion  has  been  already 
made.  Under  another  form  of  name,  we  meet  with  an  account,  at  the  year 
477,77  regarding  this  battle  of  Uchbad,  which  was  fought  against  the  Lage- 
nians,  by  Crimthann,  or  by  Fiachra  ^arntlo,  or  "  the  garrulous/'  son  to  Coel- 
ban,  son  of  Cruinnius,  from  Dalaradia.?3  At  the  year  478, 7y  or  at  483, 8o  we 
have  an  account  regarding  the  murder  of  Crimthan,  son  to  Enna  Censelach, 
son  to  Breasal  Belac,  King  of  Leinster.  This  seems  to  be  confounded  with 


64  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,   p.  3. 

65  See  Dr.   O'Donovan's   "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  146,  147. 

66  According  to  the  "Annals  of  Ulster." 

67  See  Dr.  < /Conor's   "  Rerum    Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  3 

6ii  In  English,  Aichir's  or  Heber's  Mount  : 
this  place  has  not  been  identified.  See  Dr. 
O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four  Mas 
ters,"  vol  i.,  n.  (1),  p.  146. 

69  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Iliberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.  "  Annales 
Ultonienses"  p.  5.  Tlie  "  Annals  of  Ul 
ster"  have  an  entry  at  A.D.  474,  and  again 
at  A.D.  476,  as  if  the  true  date  for  this 
battle  of  Duma  Achir  were  a  matter  of 
doubt.  See  ibid.,  p.  6. 

7°  "The  Annals  of  Inisfallen."  IbiJ., 
tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

7'  According  to  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  An 
nals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp. 
148,  149,  and  nn.  (u,  w),  ibid. 

T-  The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  have  it  en 
tered  at  each  of  these  three  years,  as  if 
there  were  different  authorities  for  each 
statement.  See  Dr.  Charles  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
iv.,  p.  6. 

73 The  "Annals  of  Boyle"  enter  it  at  this 
date.  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

7*  MacCurtin  states,  that  his  reign  com 
menced  A.D.  453  and  ended  473.  See  "  A 
Brief  Discourse  in  Vindication  of  the  Anti 
quity  of  Ireland,"  part  ii.,  pp.  155,  156. 

75  See    Dr.    O'Conor's    "Rerum    Iliber- 
nicarum    Scriptores,"    tomus   i.       Prologo- 
mina,  pars  i.,  pp.  cxlix.,  clxvii. 

76  This  is  supposed  to   have  been  fought 
in  Meath,  and  not  far  from  Tara.  Lughaidh, 


son  of  Laoighaire,  too  young  at  the  time  of 
his  father's  deatli  to  contest  the  succession, 
seems  to  have  obtained  the  crown  by  form 
ing  a  strong  confederacy  of  provincial  kings 
and  toparchs.  See  Haverty  s  ''History  of 
Ireland,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  75. 

77  See  the    "Annals  of  Inisfallen."     Dr. 
O'Conor's   "  Rerum     Hibernicarum    Scrip- 
tores,"  tomus  ii.,  pp.  3,  4. 

78  In  the  "  Annals  ol    Ulster,"  a  notice  of 
this  battle  of  Ocha   is  entered,    under  A.D. 
482,  and  again  under  A.D.  483,   in  that   old 
translation,    found   in   the    Clarendon  MS., 
torn.  49.       There   we  read:  "482.   Btllum 
Oche,  in  quo  cecidit  Ailill  Molt  manu  Lugh 
mic  Laogaire,    et    Murierti  mic    Erca.      A 
Concobaro  filio  Nessa  usque  ad  Cormacfilium 
Art  anni  208.  A  Cormac  usque  ad  hoc  belliim 
206,  ut  Cuana  serif  sit."  And  again  :  "483. 
Iti'^ulatio  Crimthain,  mac  Enna  Censelaich, 
Rt'^is  Lagenie,    mic   Bressail    Bealaich,    mic 
Cathair  moir,  Et  hoc  anno  the  battle  [called] 
Cath  Ocha,  secundum  alias,    by  Lugad  and 
by  Murtagh  mac  Erca,  and  by  Fergus   Cer- 
vail,    mac    Council  Crimthain,  and    by   Fi 
achra  Lon,  the  King  of  Dal-Araide." 

75  According  to  the  "Annals  of  Inisfal- 
]j;i,"  which  have  this  statement.  A.D.  478. 
The  war  of  Granaird.  Finchad,  King  of 
Leinster  fell.  According  to  some,  Meice 
Eirce  was  the  conqueror,  but  others  state 
Coirpre  was  the  victor.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
ii.,  p.  4. 

80  This  is  the  year  assigned  by  O'Fla- 
herty  for  the  accession  of  Lugad,  the  son  of 
Laogaire,  to  the  sovereignty  of  Ireland. 
See  "  Ogygia,"  pars  iii.,  cap.  xciii.,  p.  430. 
Other  accounts  differ  as  to  date. 


122  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


the  following  entry.  At  the  year  485,  we  find  a  record  concerning  the  first 
war  of  Granearad,  in  which  Cairpre  Mac  Neill — the  ninth  hostage — was 
victor.  There  fell  Finchat,  the  son  of  Ere,  according  to  some  writers,  while 
he  was  a  victor,  in  the  opinion  of  others.81  Again,  this  same  first  war  of 
Graine  is  entered  a  third  time,  at  A.D.  486,82  in  the  Ulster  Annals.  During 
this  contest,  Crimthan  Censalach  received  a  deadly  wound. 83  There  he  is 
said  to  have  slain  Echadh.  Notwithstanding,  the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen," 
while  recording  such  events  at  478,  still  defer,  to  the  year  480,  the  death  of 
Crimthan  Censelach.84  He  probably  lingered  two  years,  and  as  an  effect  of 
his  wounds  death  then  ensued.85  In  A.D.  485,  the  war  of  Sratha-Conaill 
was  waged.  Fiach  Mac  Finchada,  King  of  Leinster,  fell  in  this  engagement, 
while  Eochu  Mac  Corpri  was  victor.86  Yet,  this  historical  episode  is  deferred 
to  A.D.  494,  by  the  annalist  Tigernach.8?  The  Pagan  brother  of  King  Lea- 
ghaire,  who  is  called  Cairbre,  son  to  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages,  fought  and 
won  the  battle  of  Tailteen,88  in  East  Meath,89  against  the  Lagenians.  Some 
accounts  have  this  battle  at  A.D.  491,  while  other  writers  enter  it,  at  A.D.  4949° 
or  495.  In  conjunction  with  his  brother  Ailill,  Eochaidh  Guineach,?1  and 
Muircheartach  Mac  Earca,92  Illand  gave  battle  to  yEngus,  son  of  Natfraich, 
and  the  first  Christian  King  of  Munster.93  This  was  the  religious  prince 
who  had  been  baptized  by  St.  Patrick^  at  Cashel.  The  locality  of  this 
decisive  engagement  was  in  the  plain  of  Magh-Fea,  four  miles  east  of 
Leighlin,  and  within  the  county  of  Carlow.  The  spot,  formerly  called  Cell- 
osnada,  or  Ceann-Losnada,  is  now  named  Kelliston.  Mr.  O'Donovan  says, 
that  there  exists  among  the  old  natives  of  the  place  a  most  curious  and 
remarkably  vivid  tradition  of  this  battle,  which  explains  the  Irish  name  of 
the  place  denoting  "  church  of  the  groans  /'  and  which  it  received,  according 
to  this  tradition,  from  the  lamentations  of  the  Munster  women,  after  the  loss 
of  their  husbands  and  brothers  in  the  battle.95  On  the  8th  of  the  October 
Ides,  A.D.  489,96  the  King  of  Munster??  and  his  queen,  Eithne  Huathach,98 


81  See  the   "Annals    of   Ulster."      Dr.  edition  of  the   "Annals  of  Tigernach,"  at 

O'Conor's    "  Rerum   Hibernicarum   Scrip-  A.D.  490. 

tores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  7.  9=  He   is   called    "  Alliachensis   Rex,"  or 

2  See  ibid.  "  King  of  Aileach,"  in  Tigernachi  Annales, 

3  At  Granairdor  Graine.  pp.  123,  124.     See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum 
S4See  ibid.,  tomus  n.,   p.  4.  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii. 

85 The  battle  of  Graine  or  Granard  is  said  93  See  Miss  M.    F.  Cusack's  "Illustrated 

to  have  been  fought  among  the  Leinstermen  History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  130. 

themselves.      See   Dr.    O'Dono-an's    "An-  94  This  narrative  is  to  be  found  in   Petrus 

nals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.    150,  de  Natalibus,  lib.  iii.,  cap.  204,  and  in  the 

15I<  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  by  Joceline,  cap.  Ixxiv. 

See  Dr.    O' Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni-  9S  This,  however,  though  a  very  natural  turn 

carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.     Annales  Inis-  for  tradition  to  have  given  it,  is  not  the  true 

falRen^erl'  P-  f"  form  of  the  name  5  for>  it;  appears,  from  an 

"'  Where  he  enters,  CAch  S^AChA.   (Free-  ancient  historical   tale,    preserved    in    "  Lc- 

lium  Srathense.)     See  ibid.,  p.  124.  abhar-na-h-Uidhri,"  that  it  was  first  written 

A.D.  491,  according  to  the  "  Chronicum  Ceann-Losnada,  which  is  also    the    form  of 

Scotorum,"  pp.  32,    33,   and   Dr.    O'Dono-  the  name  given  in  the   "  Annals  of  Ulster  " 

vans  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"   vol.  In  the  latter  annals,  a  notice  of  this  battle 

i.,  pp.  154,  155.     The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  is  thus  entered,     "A.D.  489.  Bellum   Cinn 

place  it  at  A.  D.  494,  or  495.  Losnado,  ubi  cecidil  Aengus,  films  Natfraich, 

iee  ibid.,  n.  (p).  righ  Mumhan,  ut  Guana  scnpsit."     See  Dr. 

Ine      Annals  of  Tigernach,"  at  A.D.  O'Dono  van's  work,  vol.  i.,  n.  (n)    p    i"C2 

%k    enter    CAch     CAillcen.       See    Dr.  *  In   Dr.    O'Conor's    "  Rerum   Hiberni- 

'  Rerum   Hibernicarum   Scrip-  carum  Scriptores,"  the  Annals  of  Inisfallen 

tores,     tomus  n.     Tigernachi  Annales,  p.  have    the     Battle    of    Killosnat,     at  A.D. 

I25;  CCCCLXXXIV.     See  tomus  ii.,   p.   4.     The 

*  This  word  is  interpreted  '  vulnerator, "  Four  Masters  and  the  Annals  of  Ulster— the 

rtne     wounder,    by  Dr.  O'Conor,  in  his  latter  quote  Guana  as  authority— place  "Bel- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


123 


fell  in  this  engagement.??  According  to  one  account,  the  chief  enemy  of 
^Engus100  is  said  to  have  been  I  Hand.101  A  different  narrative  has  it,  that 
Ailill  was  the  cause  of  this  slaughter,102  while  some  other  statements  aver,10* 
that  Muirchertach  Mac  Earca,  afterwards  monarch  of  Ireland,  slew  ^Engus 
at  this  battle  of  Kill-Osnaidh.10*  His  death  appears  to  have  excited  much 
sympathy  and  sorrow  ;IQs  for,  personally,  he  was  amiable  and  respected.106 
Such  does  not  seem  to  have  been  the  case,  in  reference  to  his  wife ;  who, 
probably,  was  over-haughty,  and  revengeful  or  ambitious,10?  as  she  is  re 
presented  to  have  been  intriguing  and  unscrupulous.  She  thus  obtained 
an  undesirable  surname,  "  the  hateful."108  St.  Kieran,  the  patron  saint  of 
Ossory,  is  said  to  have  predicted  the  untimely  death  of  both  herself  and  her 
husband  on  the  same  day.10? 

The  battle  of  Sleamhain,IIOin  Westmeath,111  was  fought  A.D.  492,  by  Cairbre, 
already  mentioned,  against  the  Lagenians.  II2The  "  Chronicum  Scotorum"states, 
however,  that  Eochaidh,  son  of  Coirpre,  was  here  the  victor.  Tighernach 
dates  this  event  at  A.D.  497,^3  while  the  "  Ulster  Annals"  have  it  A.D.  498."+ 


lum  Cinnlosnado  at- 489,  or  according  to 
others  at  490.  See  "  Annales  Ultonienses," 
tomus  iv.,  ]>.  8,  ibid.  Again,  the  "  Annals 
of  Tighernach"  place  the  battle  of  Cillosnad 
at  A.D.  490.  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  pp.  123, 
124. 

9?  According  to  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  of  this  celebrated  battle  it  was 
said  : — 

"  Died  the  branch,  the  spreading  tree  of 

gold, 

Aenghus  the  laudable,  son  of  Nadfraech, 
His  prosperity  was  cut  off  by  Illann, 
In  the  battle  of  Cell-Osnadha  the  foul," 

— O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  152,  153. 

98  She   was  sister  of  Crimthann,  King   of 
Hy-Kinsellagh. 

99  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of 
Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  ii.,  chap,  i.,  p.  421. 

100  His  daughter  Uctdelb  or  Ughdelve  was 
the  wife  of  Oilild  Molt,   supreme   Monarch 
of  Ireland. 

101  The  reader  is  referred  to   a   statement 
in  a  previous  note,  as   also   to   the  account 
given  by  the  ancient   writer  of  St.  Kieran's 
Acts.       See    Colgan's     "  Acta    Sanctorum 
Hiberniae,"  V.   Martii.      Vita   S.   Kierani, 
cap.  xix.,  p.  460.      Brogan,  the  Devout,  has 
given  a  similar  narrative   in   his  tract   "On 
the  heroic  Actions  of  the  Leinster  Kings." 

102  Such  is  the  account  of  Dubtach  O'Lu- 
gair. 

103  Johannes   Dubaganus,  and   two  other 
anonymous  authors,  in  a  "  Catalogue  of  the 
Kings  of  Munster." 

104  Colgan  says,  that  all   these  varying  ac 
counts  can  be  reconciled,   in  the  account  of 
.tfingus's  death,  noticed  under  A.  D.  489,   in 
the    "Annals   of    the   Four   Masters;"   as 
those  persons  there  named    were    partici 
pators  in  the  battle  fought  against  the  King 
ot  Munster. 

105  The  old  writer  of  St.  Kieran's  Acts  al 
ludes  to  this  event  in  the  following  words  : 
"et  hsec  cedes  maxima  abusio  erat." 


106  Regarding  his  death,  the  following 
translation  of  an  Irish  poem  states  : — 

"  A   branch   of   the  great   spreading    tree 

died  — 
.dingus    the   praiseworthy,  son   of  Nath. 

fraeich ; 

His  head  was  left  with  lollann, 
In  the  battle  of  foul  Cill-Osnaigh." 

— "  Chronicum    Scotorum."      William   M. 
Hennessy's  translation,  p.   31. 

07  The  ancient  writer  of  the  Life  of  St. 
Kieran,  whose  acts  will  be  found  at  the  5th 
of  March,  tells  us  that  yEngus  and  his  queen 
were  killed,  in  consequence  of  a  prophecy 
of  St.  Kieran,  fulfilled  at  the  battle  of 
Ceall-Osnaidh. 

108  See   William  M.    Hennessy's  "  Chro 
nicum  Scotorum,"  pp.  30,  31. 

109  See  Colgan's    "Acta   Sanctorum   Hi- 
bernix,"  V.  Martii.     Vita  S.  Kierani,  cap. 
xix.,  p.  460. 

110  While  Dr.   O'Donovan  states,  that  in 
Meath   and    Ulster,    the    word    fleAniAir) 
means    "  .slimy"  or  "  slippery,"  and    "land 
bearing  elms  ;"  Dr.  Joyce  seems  to  derive 
it  from  sleibhin   (slayveen),   the  diminutive 
of  sliabh,  and  applied  to  a  little  hill.     See 
''The  Origin  and  History  of  Irish  Names 
of  Places,"  part  iv. ,  chap,  i.,  p.  367. 

11  Sleamhain,  modernized,  Slewen,  or 
Slanc,  is  now  represented  by  the  townlands, 
Slanebeg  and  Slanemore,  in  the  parish  of 
Dysart,  baronies  of  Moycashel  and  Maghera- 
dernon.  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Town- 
land  Maps  for  the  County  of  Westmeath." 
Sheet  18. 

;ia  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  154,  155  and  n. 

(q). 

113  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores."  The  "  Annals  of  Tiger- 
nach"  have  at  A.D.  497,  CAch  SteAmnA 
tTh'oe.  Tomus  ii.,  p.  125. 

_ II4  See  ibid.,  tomus  iv.,  "  Annales  Ulto 
nienses,"  p.  9. 


124 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Again,  Eoclia,  son  of  Cairbre,  was  victorious113  over  Fiach  Mac  Finnchada, 
a  king  of  Leinster,  who  fell  in  the  second  battle  of  Granairet,  or  Graine,"6 
A.D.  494,  or  496. "7  The  battle  of  Innimore,  or  Inde  Mor,  in  the  territory 
of  Congabhla,  was  fought  against  the  Leinstermen,  and  their  leader  Illann, 
son  of  Dunlaing.  Murcheartach  Mac  Earc  was  victorious.  This  engage 
ment  took  place,  according  to  some  accounts,  in  492IlS  or  497, "9  while 
certain  writers  have  it  entered  at  A.D.  499>I2°  and  others  at  A.D.  5oo.121 
Tigernach  records  the  battle  of  Innimor  at  A.D.  503. 122  During  the  reign  of 
Lugaidh,  Ard-Righ,123  the  war  of  Saegre  or  Saeghais  was  carried  on  A.D. 
494,  according  to  the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen/'12*  while  those  of  TigernachI25 
place  that  event  at  the  year  500.  The  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters''1  register 
this  battle  of  Seaghais,  at  A.D.  499,  which  is  said  to  correspond  with  A.D.  504. I26 
Muircheartach  Mac  Erca  became  a  guarantee  between  Duach  Teangumha,12? 
King  of  Connaught,  and  his  brother  Eochaidh  Tirmcharna.  The  latter  was 
foster-father  and  uncle  to  Duiseach.  She  was  wife  to  Muircheartach,  and 
daughter  to  Duach  Teangumha.128  She  is  said  to  have  instigated  her  husband 
to  avenge  a  wrong  done  by  her  father,  who  had  taken  Eochaidh  a  prisoner, 
and  contrary  to  his  agreement  with  Muircheartach.  Accordingly,  four  en 
gagements  seem  to  have  been  fought  between  the  Hy-Nialls  and  the  Con- 
naughtmen,  in  all  of  which  the  latter  were  defeated.  I29  The  battles  of 
Dealga,  of  Mucramha  and  Tuaim  Drubha  were  followed  up  by  the  battle  of 
Segsa  against  "  Duach  of  the  Brass  Tongue."130  Here  Duach,  who  suc 
ceeded  Oilill  Molt,  after  the  battle  of  Ocha,  fell.131  The  "  Annals  of  Ulster" 


"5  This  is  probably,  what  the  "Annals  of 
Tigernach"  call  at  A.D.  495,  the  CAch 
CAiiAifce  5f\enie.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
ii.,  p.  125.  They  also  state,  that  Fraoch 
was  killed  here  by  Eochiis. 

116  See  1'Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "Ilistoire 
de  1'Irlande,  Ancienne  et  Moderne,"  tome 
i.,  partii.,  chap,  ii.,  p.  271.  Ma-Geoghegan 
calls  this  king  "Fraoch,  fils  de  Fionchad." 

"7  According  to  the  "Annals  of  Ulster." 
See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hibernicarum 
Scriptores,"  tomus  iv. ,  p.  9. 

"*The  "Annals  of  Inisfallen"  assign  it 
to  A.  D.  492. 

119  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni 
carum    Scriptores,"    tomus   ii.       "  Annales 
Inisfalenses,"  p.  4.     Also,  tomus  iv.,  "  An 
nales  Ultonienses,"  p.  9,  give  the  latter  date. 

120  Thus  a  manuscript  copy  of  the  ' '  Annals 
of  Clonmacnoise,"  cod.   cl.,    according   to 
O'Flaherty. 

121  See    "  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  edited 
by  William  M.  Hennessy,  pp.  34,   35,  and 
n.  8. 

122  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.      Tigernachi 
Annales,  p.  127. 

"3  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "History 
of  Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  ii.,  chap,  i.,  p. 
422. 

I2<  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Annales  Inis 
falenses,  p.  4. 

125  See  ibid.  Tigernachi  Annales,  pp. 
125,  126. 


126  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i., 
pp.  160  to  163. 

127  He  was  otherwise  called  Duach  Galach, 
i.e.,  the  Valourous. 

r-'8  In   Irish  his  name  is  written 


See  1'Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "  Histoire 
de  I'lvlande,  Ancienne  ct  Moderne."  Se- 
conde  Partie,  chap,  ii.,  p.  271. 

130  Dr.  O'Conor  thinks  he  was  so  called 
because  of  his  using  the  warlike  trumpet  — 
"  JEre   ciere   viros,    Martemque   accendere 

cantu." 

131  Regarding  this  battle,   Cenfaelad,   an 
ancient  poet,  sang  : 


SejVifA  beAn   no 
•j\o  boi  cpu  •oeA'pJ  'OA'p  cjun-pgli, 
LA  t)uipcn,  1115111  "OuAich 
CAC!I  TJeALccA,  CAch  lllucriArnA  Acuf  CAch 

UUAniA    OrUlbA, 

LA  CAcli  SeAgfA,  In  ccor\cAirx  t}tiAcri  CeAn- 

5U  111  V)A. 

Thus  rendered  into  English  by  Dr.  O'Dono- 

van  — 

"  The  battle  of  Seaghais  ;  a  certain  woman 

caused  it  ;  red  blood  was  over  lances, 
By  Duiseach,  daughter  of  Duach. 
The  battle  of  Dealga,  the  battle  of  Mu 
cramha,    and    the    battle    of    Tuaim- 
Drubha, 

With  the  battle  of  Seaghais,  wherein  fell 
Duach  Teangumha."  —  See  "Annals  of 
the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  162,  163. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


125 


enter  the  battle  of  Seaga — as  they  write  it — at  A.D.  501. 132  Seghais  was  an 
old  name  for  the  Curlieu  Hills,133  near  Boyle,  on  the  confines  of  the  counties 
of  Sligo  and  Roscommon.134- 

It  would  seem,  that  soon  after  the  death  of  St.  Patrick,  about  A.D.  493, 13S 
the  great  fort  at  Dun-da-leathghlas/36  or  Downpatrick,  had  been  assaulted 
by  some  hostile  force.  Tighernach  places  this  siege  at  A.D.  496. 137  Cairbre, 
the  son  of  Niall,  fought  at  Ceann-Ailbhe  or  Cnoc-Ailbhe,  against  the 
Leinsterman,  A.D.  494. 133  This  was  probably  the  name  of  a  hill  in  Magh- 
Ailbhe,  in  the  north  of  Kildare  county.13?  Tighernach  has  this  engagement 
of  Cindailbe  at  A.D.  499. '4°  The  battle  of  "the  White  Hill"  is  noted  in  the 
"  Annals  of  Ulster,"  at  A.D.  500. '<'  It  is  called  the  battle  of  Kinailbe,  in 
the  "  Annals  of  Clonmacnoise,"  and  it  is  entered,  under  the  year  501. 14-2 
The  battle  at  Droina  Loch  Muidhe,  or  "  the  hill  of  Loughbuy,"143  was  fought 
against  the  O'Neills  by  the  Leinstermen.144  The  latter  were  here  victorious, ^s 
after  a  very  sanguinary  engagement.1-'6  This  encounter,  called  "the  battle 
of  Druim-Lough-maighe,"  by  the  Four  Masters, I4?  took  place,  A.D.  496,  or 
500, I4S  or  502,  according  to  the  "Annals  of  Ulster. '•''•'9  This  place  was  de 
nominated  Magh-Muirthemne,'50  situated  in  the  territory  of  Conaille,  the 
level  portion  of  Louth  county.1'1  In  503, J52  or  504,'^  the  battle  of  Mannen1'4 


132  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rcrum  Iliberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.     Annale.s   LT- 
tonienses,  p.   10. 

133  These  are  partly  situated  in  the  Barony 
of  Boyle,  county  of  Roscommon,  and  partly 
in   the    baronies    of   (Jorran    and    Coulavin, 
county  of  Sligo.     These  mountains  appear 
from  the  town  of  Boyle,  "rising   from   the 
opposite  side  of  a  valley  at  the   distance  of 
about  a  mile  ;  their  height  is  not  consider 
able  ;  and,  as  every  part  of  their  surface   is 
applicable  to  tillage,  pasturage,  or  planting, 
houses  may  be   observed   gathering   far  up 
their  sides. "     John   D' Alton's  "  History  of 
Ireland  and  Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  i.,  p.  9. 

134  See  O'Mahony's   Keating's   "History 
of  Ireland,"  book   ii.,  part  i.,   chap,   i.,   p. 
422,  n.  67. 

135  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  "  Chroni- 
cum  Scotorum,"  pp.  32,  33. 

136  The  Anglicized  form  of  this  name  is 
stated  to  be   "the  dun  or  fort  of  the   two 
broken  locks  or  fetters."     See  Dr.  O'Dono- 
van's  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol. 
i.,  n.  (e),  p.  158. 

137  It   is    entered    as    Expugnatio    TJturi- 
leAcVi-gUire.      See  Dr.   O'Conor's   "Rc 
rum    Hihernicarum    Scriptores,"   tomus    ii. 
Tigernachi  Annales,  p.   125. 

138  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  158,  159, 

139  See  ibid.,  n.  (g) 

140  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores."    "Tigernachi  Annales," 
p.  125,  tomus  ii. 

141  Ibid.,  tomus  iv.    Annales  Ultonienses, 
p.  10. 

142  At  A.D.  496,  it  is  entered  in  William 
M.   Hennessy's    "Chronicum    Scotorum," 
PP-  34,  35- 

x«  Anglicized,  "the  yellow  lake."     It  is 


difficult  to  ascertain  its  locality  in  Louth 
under  cither  denomination. 

144  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.  Annales  Ul 
tonienses,  pp.  9,  10. 

143  The  "Chronicum  Scotorum"  places 
the  battle  of  Druim  Lochmaighe  at  A.D. 
499,  PP.  34,  35- 

146  See   1'Abbe    Ma-Geoghegan's    "His- 
toire  de  1'Irlande,"  tome  i.     Seconde  Partie, 
chap,  ii.,  p.  271. 

147  See  Dr,  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i., 
pp.  160,  161. 

148  See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History 
of  Ireland,"  book  ii.,  part  i.,  chap,  i.,  n. 
68,  p.  422. 

I4'  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  10. 

150  It  is  stated,  that  the  forests  of  this  dis 
trict  were  cut  down  A.M.  2859,  before  pes 
tilence    defrayed    the    adventurers,    whom 
Nemedius  had  led  to  invade  Ireland.      This 
etymon   is    Anglicized    "  the   Plain   of  the 
oea."     See  "  The  History  of  Dundalk,  and, 
its  Environs,"  by  John  D'Alton  and  J.  R. 
O'Flanagan,  chap,  i.,  p.  i. 

151  This  territory  was  also  called  Machaire 
Oirghiall,  and  the  ancient  inhabitants  were 
designated    Conaille    Muirtheimhne.       See 
Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Leabhar  na  g-Ceart,  or 
the  Book  of  Rights,"  n.  (s),  p.  22. 

52  See  "Annales  Ultonienses."  Dr. 
O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scrip- 
tores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  n. 

153  See   "Tigernachi  Annales,"  ibid.,  p. 
127.     This  writer  has  it  CAch  fflAtiArro. 

154  There  was  a  Mannin-Lough,  otherwise 
called  Loch-na-n  Aireadh,   in  the   ancient 
territory  of  Ciarraighe-Locha-na-nairneadh, 
which  comprised  about  the  southern  half  of 
Costello  Barony,  in  the  county  of  Mayo, 


126 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


was  foughtby  Aedan,  son  of  Gauran.  This  was  probably  some  invasion  of 
the  Isle  of  Man,'53  with  the  particulars  of  which  we  are  now  uninformed.  :56 

The  war  of  Ardacorann  or  Ardacoraind15?  is  noticed  at  A.D.  497, is8  506, 
507,  and  SIQ.^S  Tighernach  notes  it  at  A.D.  508. l6°  Next,  according  to 
the  "  Annals  of  Inisfallen,"  the  war  of  Fremaind  Midi  took  place  A.D.  499-161 
The  "  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  has  A.D.  s°5-162  But  the  "Annals  of  Tigher 
nach"  mention  it  as  the  battle  of  Fernmaigh  Midi — more  correctly  Fream- 
hainnl63— fought  against  the  Berradian  Offelians,16*  A.D.  5o8.l65  At  the  year 
509,  however,  the  "  Annals  of  Ulster"  notice  it,  in  the  following  manner. 
Failgi  Berraide  or  Falgeus  Berradensis  was  conqueror  in  the  war  of  Fremonn, 
now  Frewin,166  fought  against  Fiach,  son  of  Neill.16?  Yet,  the  tide  of  victory 
soon  turned  against  the  Offalians.168  The  "Annals  of  Inisfallen"  refer  to 
A.D.  5o4/69  the  battle  of  Dromderg,  or  the  "  Red  Hill,"1?0  which  was  fought 
against  them.  The  "Chronicum  Scotorum"  enters  it  at  A.D.  512.  Fiach 
Mac  Neill  was  the  conqueror,  in  this  engagement,  over  the  Hy-failge.  At 
A.D.  515,  or  516,  the  date  for  this  encounter  has  been  entered  in  the  "  Annals 
of  Ulster."1?1  The  plains  of  Meath  were  harrassed  by  the  Lagenians,  after 
this  battle,1?2  according  to  one  account ;  although,  others  state,1?3  the  result 
of  this  conflict  enabled  Fiach  to  wrest  the  plains  of  Midhe  from  the  La 
genians,1?4  whose  champion  Faibge  Berraide  appears  to  have  been. 

The  foregoing  accounts  are  sufficient  to  satisfy  us,  that  the  land  of  Eire 
was  "a  trembling  sod,"1?5  during  the  lifetime  of  St.  Brigid.  It  is  said,  that 


See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  ii.,  n.  (1),  p.  1115,  and  Index 
Locorum,  pp.  Si,  90. 

*«  The  Manama  of  our  Annals  is  the  pre 
sent  Isle  of  Man.  See  ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  n. 
(m),  p.  878. 

156  See  this  battle  noted  in  Rev.  James 
Johnstone's   "  Antiquitates   Celto-Norman- 
nicse,"  p.  57. 

157  Not  identified. 

158  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores."      Annales  Inisfalenses, 
p.  5>  tomus  ii. 

159  In  the  usual  doubtful  style,  the  "An 
nals  of  Ulster"  enter  it,  under  each  of  the 
three  foregoing   dates,    tomus   iv.,    p.    n, 
ibid. 

160  He    styles    it    CAch    .A|voA-cof\AnTo . 
Ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  127. 

161  See  ibid.,  tomus  ii.,  p.  5« 

162  See  William  M.  Hennessy's  edition, 

PP-  36,  37- 

163  In  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  this  battle  in  Meath  is  no 
ticed  at  A.D.  501.     Keating  places  the  site 
of  it  in  the  ancient  territory  of  Teabtha. 
It  is  now  known  as  Frewin,   a  lofty   hill 
rising   over  the   western    shore   of  Lough 
Owel,    in    the     townland    of    Wattstown, 
parish   of  Portomon,    barony  of  Corkaree, 
and  county  of  Westmeath.     See  vol.  i.,  n. 
(w),  p.  89,  and  pp.  162,  163. 

164  Res  Failghe,  or  "  Ros  of  the  Rings," 
was  ancestor  of  the  Ui  Failghe,  of  whom 
O'Conchobhuir    Failghe    (O'Conor     Faly) 
and  O'Diomasaigh  (O'Dempsey)   of  Clann 
Maeiliaghra     ((Jlanmalier),    and     O'Duinn 
(O'Dunne)  of  Iregan,  were  the  most  distin 


guished  families,  after  the  establishment  of 
surnames.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Leab- 
har  na  g-Ceart,  or  Book  of  Rights,"  n.  (b), 

P-  193- 

I6s  Called,  CACKI  £ej\titti<ii5m  mit>i  m 
"Tigernachi  Annales."  Dr.  O'Conor's 
"  Rerum  Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus 
ii.,  p.  127. 

100  The  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Westmeath"  do  not 
give  this  historic  site,  where  it  ought  to  be 
noted,  on  Sheet  ii. 

167  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  Rer.   Hib.  Scrip., 
tomus  iv.     "  Annales  Ultonienses,"  p.  n. 

168  In    Sir    Charles    Coote's    "Statistical 
Survey  of  the  King's  County,"  we  have  the 
following  ridiculous  account  about  the  deriva 
tion  of  their  territory :  ' '  Hy  Falgia  is  derived 
from  Hy  Eealgia,  that  is  the  country  of  the 
worshippers  of  Heal." — Introduction,  p.  I. 

169  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.    Annales  Inis 
falenses,  p.  5. 

170  The  "Annals  of  Ulster"  term  it  the 
"war  of  Dromaderge."     Perhaps,  the  Red 
Hills,  near  Kildare,  might  be  identified  with 
the  site. 

171  These  records  continue  to  state,  that 
Caennfael  said,  the  battle  in  the  red  hills 
was  a  vindictive  revenge  of  the  heart  after 
seven  years.     See  ibid.,  tomus  iv.,  p.  12. 

172  According  to  Caennfael.     See  ibid. 

173  See  William  M.    Hennessy's  "  Chro 
nicum  Scotorum,"  pp.  38,  39. 

174  So  states  Cendfaeladh,  as  found  in  his 
poem.     Ibid. 

175  An  expressive  term  in  our   Annals, 
when  alluding  to  the  prevalence  of  domestic 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


127 


Illann  died  A.D.  506,  that  he  ruled  thirty,  and  that  he  lived  120  years.  The 
latter  account  is  probably  an  exaggeration.  Even  after  death — deferred  to 
A.D.  5241?6  in  one  account — his  name  was  a  terror  [to  his  enemies.  The 
Hy-Nialls  then  collected  a  large  army,  which  invaded  the  territories  of 
Leinster.1??  Cucorb  is  said  to  have  led  the  Lagenians  to  a  signal  victory,1?8 
which  was  obtained  at  Fionnabhuir  or  Fennor,1^  near  Kildare,  A.D.  506. l8° 
Other  accounts  have  it  at  a  later  period.181  The  spirit  of  their  buried  hero 
survived  in  the  souls  of  his  former  companions-in-arms,182  and  the  voice  of 
fame  seemed  to  speak  from  the  very  grave,  where  his  remains  were  moulder 
ing  in  their  kindred  dust.  The  people  of  the  Leinster  province,  having  as 
sembled  in  council,  resolved  on  removing  the  mortal  remains  of  their  king 
from  his  tomb.  The  ghastly  corpse  had  a  magic  force,  second  only  to  his 
living  presence  among  them.l83  Driven  in  a  chariot  towards  their  enemies, 
the  Leinster  people  met  them,  at  a  place  called  Luachair,18*  and  fought  around 
the  dead  body  of  illand,18^  until  they  routed  Neill's  posterity  with  great 
slaughter.186  The  success  of  their  arms  was  attributed  by  the  Leinstermen 
to  the  exposition  of  their  former  king's  dead  body,  and  to  the  special  protec 
tion  of  St.  Erigid,18?  which  gave  them  confidence  and  courage.188  Thus  was 
the  name  and  influence  of  our  illustrious  abbess  mighty  with  the  mightiest ; 
and  her  protection  was  obtained  by  those  kings  and  people,  who  had  fostered 
her  great  religious  foundation,  whenever  public  and  private  occasions  called 
for  her  prayers  and  intercession. 


wars,  at  various  periods. 

175  Sec  William  M.  Ilennessy's  "  Chroni. 
cum  Scotorum,"  pp.  40,  41. 

177  See    Abhate    D.    Giacomo    Certani's 
"La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese. "     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  471,  472. 

178  This  battle  obtained  by  the  Leinster 
men,  under  Cucorb's  leadership,  took  place 
A.D.  506,  the  thirtieth  year  of  llland's  reign, 
according  to  the  "Catalogue  of  the  Kings 
of  Leinster."     See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thau- 
maturga,"  n.  53,  p.  544. 

179  Such   is  Dr.    O'Donovan's  identifica 
tion. 

180  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  164,  165. 

181  See  William  M.  Ilennessy's  "Chroni- 
cum  Scotorum,"  pp.  40,  41. 

l8i  "  Their  souls  are  kindled  at  the  battles 
of  old  ;  at  the  actions  of  other  times.  Their 
eyes  are  flames  of  fire.  They  roll  in  search 
of  the  foes  of  the  land.  Their  mighty  hands 
are  on  their  swords.  Lightning  pours  from 
their  sides  of  steel.  .  .  .  Bright  are  the 
chiefs  of  battle,  in  the  armour  of  their  fa 
thers.  " — James  Macpherson's  "Poems  of 
Ossian."  Fingal,  book  i. 

183  Such  an  incident,  as  the  present  one, 
might  well  have  inspired  "the  Bard  of 
Erin,"  when  he  wrote  these  magnificent 
lyric  lines  : — 

11  And  it  cries,  from  the  grave  where  the 

hero  lies  deep, 
'  Though  the  day  of  your  chieftain  for 

ever  hath  set, 

O  leave  not  his  sword  thus  inglorious  to 
sleep— 


It  hath   victory's   life  in  it  yet !' " — 
Moore's  "  Irish  Melodies." 

184  Luachair  means  a  "  Rushy  Place,"  but 
although  there  are  countless  places,  bearing 
this  name  in   Leinster,  Dr.  ODonovan  had 
never  been  able  to  identify  the  exact  site  of 
this  battle. 

185  "  While   thus  aloft  the  hero's  corse 

they  bear, 
Behind  them  rages  all  the  storm  of 

war. 
Confusion,  tumult,  horror,  o'er  the 

throng 
Of  men,  steeds,  chariots,  urg'd  the 

rout   along."  —  Pope's    Homer's 
"  Iliad,"  book  vii.,  11.  821  to  824. 

186  An  account,  concerning  this  miracle, 
is  also  given  in  the   "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  at  A.D.  506,   as  follows:  "The 
battle  of  Luachair  [was  fought]  by  Cucorb 
against  the  Ui-Neill,  of  which  was  said  : 

The  fierce  battle  of  Luachair,  over  head, 
Brighet  saw,  no  vain  vision  ; 

The  bloody  battle  of  Fionnabhair  was  noble, 
about  the  body  of  Illann  after  his 
death." 

— See  O'Donovan's  edition,  vol.  i.,  pp.  164, 

165,  and  nn.  (z,  a). 

187  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta   S.   Brigida;,  lib.   ii.,  cap.  x., 
xi.,  xii.,  xiii.,  pp.  551,   552.     This  account 
is  abbreviated  in  the  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae, 
cap.  xc.,  p.  538,  ibid. 

88  Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidse,  sect,  liv.,  lv., 
p.  594,  ibid.,  where  the  saint  is  said  to  have 
promised  Illand  a  succession  of  victories,  it 
is  related,  that  the  brother  of  the  king,  on 


128 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

DIFFERENT  PLACES  CALLED  KILBRIDE,  ON  THE  EASTERN  AND  SOUTH-EASTERN  COAST 
OF  ANCIENT  LEINSTER,  WHERE  THE  HOLY  ABBESS  MAY  HAVE  LIVED— ST. 
BRIGID  AND  ST.  SENAN— ST.  BRIGID  RESTORES  A  CRIPPLE— AN  INSANE  MAN — 
VARIOUS  MIRACLES  WHICH  WERE  WROUGHT  THROUGH  HER  MERITS— SHE  PREVENTS 
BLOODSHED  BETWEEN  CONALL  AND  CAIRBRE— SHE  SAVES  CONALL  FROM  HIS 
ENEMIES. 

ST.  BRIGID  seems  to  have  founded  some  religions  establishment,  near  the 
Irish  Sea,  and  on  the  western  side  of  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Leinster. 
There  are  several  places  called  after  her,  in  corresponding  situations ;  but, 
it  is  difficult  now  to  determine  if  any  one  of  them  be  identical  with  it.  Hav 
ing  for  a  western  boundary  a  pretty  streamlet,  which  joins  the  Bray  river,1 
and  which  divides  it  from  Kilcroney,  there  is  a  townland  of  Kilbride,  in  the 
northern  part  of  Wicklow  county.2  It  lies  within  the  parish  of  Bray,  3  a 
short  distance  west  of  the  town,  in  the  barony  of  Rathdown,  and  very  con 
venient  to  the  sea.  No  trace  of  a  ruined  church,  however,  can  now  be  dis 
covered  there  ;  although,  it  seems  likely  one  formerly  existed,  and  which  had 
been  dedicated  to  our  St.  Brigid,  from  whom  the  townland  probably  derived 
its  denomination.  Besides  this,  there  is  a  townland  and  parish  of  Kilbride* 
in  the  barony  of  Lower  Talbotstown.  A  small  stream  passes  the  village  of 
Kilbride,  and  this  is  soon  poured  into  the  upper  waters  of  the  River  Liffey. 
Yet,  no  ruin  can  be  traced  on  the  site  of  the  townland,  which  appears  to  have 
been  named  after  our  St.  Brigid.5  Again,  there  is  a  Kilbride  townland  and 
village  in  the  parish  of  Dunganstown 6 — certainly  not  its  ancient  name — in 


hearing  her  words,  conceived  a  great  desire 
to  obtain  a  like  favour,  to  become  a  servant 
of  St.  Brigid,  and  to  receive  baptism.  Ac 
cording  to  the  metrical  account,  the  follow 
ing  reply  was  made  by  our  saint : 

1 '  Hsec  tibi  credenti  proestabit  magna  potestas, 
Tempora  longa  prius,  cum  hoc  regno  vita 

futura, 

Et  tua  progenies  post  te  tua  regna  tenebit, 
Donee  ad  extremum,  veniet  post  terminus 

sevi." 

These  promises  of  the  saint  are  likewise 
said  to  have  been  fulfilled  ;  and  Colgan,  in 
a  lengthened  note,  postfixed  to  this  passage, 
gives  a  long  list  of  the  kings  of  Leinster, 
belonging  to  Ailill's  race,  extracted  from 
our  Annals,  and  tending  to  establish  the 
truth  of  such  prophecy.  See  ibid.,  n.  12, 
P-  598. 

CHAPTER  ix.— '  The  Bray  River  issues 
from  the  romantic  lough  of  the  same  name, 
and  runs  about  eight  miles  eastward — but  so 
as  to  describe  the  segment  of  a  circle  with 
the  convexity  southward— to  the  sea,  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  below  the  bridge,  at  the 
town  of  Bray.  It  has  most  of  its  course  in 
the  Wicklow  half-barony  of  Rathdown  ;  but, 
over  a  short  distance  above  its  embouchure, 
it  runs  on  the  boundary  between  the  counties 
of  Dublin  and  Wicklow.  ' '  Though  brief  in 


length,  it  abounds  in  attractions,  and  identi 
fies  itself  with  the  curiosities  of  Glencree, 
the  wonders  of  the  deep,  dark,  bosky  ravine 
of  Uargle,  the  exulting  beauties  of  the 
demesne  of  Powerscourt,  and  the  several 
amenities  of  the  town  of  Bray." — "  Parlia 
mentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,  vol.  i.,  p. 
277. 

2  See  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps 
for  the  County  of  Wicklow."     Sheets,  4,  7, 
8. 

3  In  the  Dinnsenchus  there  is  a  legendary 
account,  that  Bray  was  so  called  from  Brea, 
sou    of  Seanboth,    one  of    Parthalon's    fol 
lowers,  who  first  introduced  single  combat 
into  Ireland.    See  Dr.  P.  W.  Joyce's  "  Ori 
gin  and  History  of  Irish  Names  of  Places," 
part  iv. ,  chap,  i.,  p.  377.    Might  the  valley, 
in   which   Kilbride  is  situated,  have  been 
called    Magh-Breagh,    so    frequently    men 
tioned  in  the  Lives  of  St.  Brigid  ? 

4  This  parish  is  represented  on  the  "Ord 
nance    Survey    Townland    Maps    for     the 
County  of  Wicklow."     Sheets,  i,  2,  5,  6. 

5  Still  in  this  parish,  there   are  two  old 
burial    grounds    and    several    raths.      See 
Lewis'  "Topographical  Dictionary  of  Ire 
land,"  vol.  ii.  p.  56.      One  of  these  ruins  is 
not  far  from  the  Catholic  church  of  Kilbride, 
and  surrounded  by  a  graveyard.    The  ruined 
walls  now  scarcely  rise  above  the  earth. 

6  In  Daniel  Augustus  Beaufort's   "Me« 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BR2G2D. 


129 


the  barony  of  Arklow.?  The  townland  and  village  are  somewhat  removed 
from  the  sea,  which  they  overlook.  Not  far  from  the  town  of  Arklow,  are 
the  townland  and  parish  of  Kilbride,8  in  the  barony  of  Arklow.  9  The  old 
church  here  seems,  however,  to  have  been  dedicated  to  a  St.  Bride,  different 
from  the  holy  Abbess  of  Kildarc.  The  church  is  near  the  sea-shore,  and  it 
commands  a  fine  view  ot  the  sea,  and  the  town  of  Arklow. 10 

A  short  distance  from  Clondaikm,  in  the  townland  and  in  the  parish  of 
Kilbride,"  barony  of  Newcastle,  and  county  of  Dublin,12  are  the  ruins  of  an 
old  castle  and  an  ancient  ehurch,  which  occupy  a  slight  elevation  and  which 
are  picturesquely  situated.  The  graveyard  enclosure  is  nearlv  circular,  and 
it^  adjoins  a  road,  near  Castie  IJagot  demesne.^  Kilbride 'old  church  is 
within  some  short  distance  of  the  Dublin  ana  Naas  road,  nearly  mid-way 


between  Clondalkin  and  Rathcoole.  In  summer  time,  the  graves  in  Kil 
bride  churchyard  are  almost  smothered  with  nettles;  and,  few  tombstones 
are  now  there,  while  only  a  portion  of  the  ancient  church  remains.1*  The 
choir-arch  gives  evidence  of  its  being  antique  ;  while,  excepting  the  arching 
stones,  which  were  carefully  dressed,  the  other  building  stones  are  mostly 
small.  The  church,  even  when  complete,  seems  to  have  been  exceedingly 


moir  of  a  Map  of  Ireland,"  this  parish  is  set 
down  as  a  rectory  in  the  diocese  ol  Dublin. 
See  Index,  p.  28.  The  present  Catholic 
church  stands  on  the  site  of  the  ancient  one, 
and  is  surrounded  by  the  old  graveyard. 
Such  is  the  traditional  information  given  to 
the  writer  by  Rev.  James  Doyle,  D.D.,  of 
St.  Michan's  church,  Dublin,  who  has  a 
thorough  local  knowledge  of  the  neighbour 
hood. 

i  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps 
for  the  County  of  Wicklow."  Sheet  31. 

8 These  are  shown  in  the  "Ordnance 
Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
\Vicklow."  Sheets  40,  41. 

»  The  Parish  extends  along  the  left  side  of 
the  Ovoca  river  to  the  sea.  See  "  Parlia 


mentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland."  vol   ii.,  p. 
368. 

10  See  Lewis'  "Topographical  Dictionary 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  55. 

11  This  parish  is  a  chapelry,  and  part  of 
the   benefice   of  Clondalkin.      See    "  The 
Parliamentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,"  vol. 
ii.,  p.  367. 

'-See     "Ordnance    Survey     Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Dublin."   Sheet  21. 

13  On    Kilmactalway    townland.        Near 
Castle  Bagot  House  are  the  ruins  of  another 
old  church,  within  a  graveyard,  not  far  re 
moved  from  Kilbride.      See  ibid. 

14  The  accompanying  engraving  by  George 
A.    Ilanlon,    Dublin,    is   from    a  drawing, 
taken    on    the  spot,   by    Mr.   John    O'C. 

K 


i.o  LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


small;  yet,  the  walls  were  of  great  thickness.  Around  the  choir-arch,^  the 
face  of  its  wall  is  now  much  broken.  A  few  ivy-tendrils  creep  up  along  the 
sides  of  this  ruin.  From  the  site,  a  splendid  view  of  the  Dublin  mountains 
and  of  the  Liffy  valley  may  be  obtained.  This  church  appears  to  have  taken 
its  name  from  our  St.  Erigid ;  still,  it  is  doubtful  enough,  that  she  founded  it, 
or  that  she  there  resided,  at  any  particular  period  of  her  life.  Although,  in 
the  city  and  county  of  Dublin,  several  churches  and  religious  houses  had 
been  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  probably  at  epochs  long  subsequent  to  her 
decease;  yet,  we  could  not  presume  to  assert,  that  she  ever  founded  or 
resided  at  any  of  those  places  during  that  interval,  when  she  lived  in  the 
eastern  and  maritime  part  of  Leinster. 

In  the  county  of  Wexford,  there  is  a  Kilbride  townland,16  quite  near  the 
sea-shore,  in  the  parish  of  Kiltennell,17  and  barony  of  Ballaghkeene.  No 
trace  of  a  ruined  church  is  there  to  be  found.18  Besides  this,  on  Kilbride 
townland/9  removed  some  miles  from  the  sea-shore,  in  the  parish  of  Bally- 
huskard,20  and  barony  of  Ballaghkeene,  an  old  church  and  a  graveyard  are 
yet  to  be  seen.  There  is  a  Kilbride  townland,21  not  far  from  Duncannon 
Fort,22  and  near  the  sea,  in  the  united  parishes  of  St.  James  and  Dunbrody, 
barony  of  Shelburnc.  No  trace  of  a  ruin  can  be  discovered  there,  on  the 
Ordnance  Survey  Maps.  Still,  we  may  fairly  infer,  that  in  times  remote, 
the  great  Patroness  of  Ireland  had  churches,  chapels,  or  convents,  dedicated 
to  her  memory,  in  nearly  all  the  foregoing  townlands  and  parishes.  A 
knowledge  of  these  facts,  however,  will  hardly  help  us  to  determine  the  exact 
place  of  her  maritime  abode. 

While  St.  Brigid  lived  in  her  convent,  beside  the  Irish  Sea,  she  is  said  to 
have  prepared  vestments  23  for  the  holy  Bishop  Senan.  He  then  lived  in  an 
island,  24  which  was  situated  at  an  opening  towards  the  ocean,  in  the  western 
part  of  Ireland. 25  A  wide  expanse  of  water  surrounded  that  island,  and  it 
lay  at  a  long  distance  from  Brigid's  religious  establishment.  Just  opposite 
the  town  of  Kilrush,  and  now  constituted  a  portion  of  that  parish,  Scattery 
Island  26  and  its  famous  ruins  2?  may  be  seen  far  out  into  the  waters  of  the 
spreading  Shannon.28  The  vestments  to  be  used  in  offering  up  the  Holy 


Robinson,    Blackrock,    Co.  Dublin.  371,  372. 

13  A  great  number  of  old  ruined  churches  ~3  These  are  called  "missalia  indumenta," 

in  Ireland  had  been  distinguished  by  similar  in  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life, 
choir-arches.  -^  TO    this    island,    formerly    called    Inis 

See  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  Cathuigh,  and  at  present    Scattery  Island, 

for  the  County  of  Wexford."     Sheet  12.  allusion  is  frequently  made  in  the  Acts  of 

This   parish    is    also    called    Kilbride.  St.  Senan,  which  will  be  found  at  the  8th 

See  Lewis'   "Topographical  Dictionary  of  of  March. 

Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  212,  213.  2s  The  accompanying  engraving,  by  George 

1   The  Owenvarra,   which  flows  through  A.  Hanlon,  Dublin,  is  from  a  sketch  taken 

Courtown  demesne,  falls  into  the  sea,  at  the  near  the  scene  by  William  F.    Wakeman, 

bay    of   Kilbride.      See    J.    N.    Brewer's  who  afterwards  transferred  it  to  the  wood. 
'  Beauties  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  p.  389.  26  "  It  is  also  called  Holy  Isle  :  and  on  the 

"  Ordnance    Survey     Townland  festival   of  the   saint   it  is  resorted  to  by 

Maps  lor  the  County  of  Wexford."    Sheets  crowds  of  pilgrims."— "  The  Tourists'  Illus- 

26,  27.      The  church  and  graveyard  are  to  trated  Handbook  for  Ireland,"  p.  134. 
be  found  on  Sheet  26.  27  These  are  depicted  on  the  "  Ordnance 

3  See  an  account  of  it  in  "The  Parlia-  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 

mentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  p.  Clare."     Sheet  67. 

28  A  smaller  island,  called  Inishbeg,  lies 
21  See     "Ordnance     Survey     Townland  nearer  to  the  Clare  side,  and  a  little  to  the 

the  County  of  Wexford."      Sheet  north-east  of  Scattery.     See  ibid. 

29  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 
See  an  account  of  this  spot  in  J.   N.  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  cxv.,  pp.  540, 

'Beauties  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  541.      Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.  cap. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  were  placed  in  a  chest.  This,  it  is  said,  was  floated 
out  on  the  sea.  St.  Brigid  fully  confided  in  Heavenly  guidance,  that  it  should 
reach  St.  Senan.  Her  confidence  was  not  misplaced ;  for,  the  legend  states, 
this  chest  was  wafted  round  the  Irish  coast  towards  that  part  of  the  island 
where  St.  Senan  lived.  This  happened  through  a  special  direction  of 
1  rovidence,  and  the  box  went  over  sea-courses,  which  skilled  mariners  could 
only  pass  with  great  difficulty,  and  in  well-appointed  vessels.  St.  Senan  had 
a  revelation  concerning  this  gift  he  was  to  expect.  On  that  particular  day, 
when  the  chest  floated  near  his  island,  Senan  said  to  his  monks  :  "  Go  to  the 
sea,  and  bring  me  whatever  you  shall  find  upon  it."  His  brethren  found  the 
chest,  and  brought  it,  as  required,  to  St.  Serum.3*  The  latter  told  them,  it 


Scattery  Island,  and  Mouth  of  the  Shannon. 

was  a  gift  sent  by  St.  Brigid,  and  he  gave  thanks  to  God,  while  invoking  a 
blessing  on  the  holy  virgin.3°  However,  a  doubt  has  been  thrown  on  the 
credibility  of  this  legends'—capable  of  being  resolved  from  a  very  marvel 
lous  story  into  a  narrative  divested  of  everything  incredible  3*_so  far  as  it 
relates  to  our  St.  Brigid.  Although  the  learned  Ussher  inferred  33_probably 
from  reading  this  account— that  St.  Senan  had  been  established  34  at  Inis- 
cathy,  before  the  death  of  Kildare's  holy  Abbess ;  yet,  it  is  more  likely  he 


Ixxxi.  p.   561. 

30  A  somewhat  similar  miracle  is  related 
in  the  Acts  of  St.    Senan,   Abbot  of  Inis- 
cathy  ;  but  there,  the  vestments  prepared  for 
him  were  made  by  a  St.  frigid,  the  daughter 
of  Conchracius,  of  the  Mactail  family,  and 
whose  cell  was  at  a  place  called    Clan-in- 
fidi,  near  the  banks  of  the  River  Shannon. 
See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hibernice," 
viii.  Martii.  Secunda  Vita,  sive  Supplemen- 
tum  Vitse  S.  Senani,  ex  Hibernico  transum- 
tum,  cap.  xxxix.,  p.  536,  rccte  532. 

31  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  Ecclesiastical  History 


of  Ireland,  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  iv.,  n.  65, 
pp.^449,  450. 

j-  As  for  example,  the  vestments,  packed 
in  a  chest,  might  have  been  shipped  in  the 
ordinary  way,  and  have  been  consigned  to 
St.  Senan,  whom  they  safely  reached. 

:i  See  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Anti- 
quitates."  cap.  xvii.,  pp.  454,  488. 

34  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani — who  re 
lates  this  legend— makes  St.  Senan  preside 
over  an  imaginary  body  of  Canons  Regular. 
See  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S. 
Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Sesto,  pp.  544 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


did  not  settle  there  until  some  time  after  her  death. ^  Hence,  it  seems  pro 
bable,  that  the  present  narrative  has  been  taken  from  the  acts  of  another  St. 
Brigid,-6  and  transferred  incorrectly  to  the  lives— not,  however,  the  earliest 
ones — of  Ireland's  illustrious  patroness. 

Like  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  regarding  herself  as  subject  to 
human  infirmities,  the  blessed  Abbess  felt  for  the  infirm.s?  On  a  certain 
occasion,  while  Brigid  was  sitting  at  the  door  of  a  monastery,  in  which  she 
resided,  she  saw  a  man  at  the  bank  of  an  adjoining  river.33  He  was  bearing 
a  burden,  and,  as  he  walked  along,  his  body  seemed  curved. 39  Pitying  his 
condition,  the  compassionate  superioress  said  to  those  around  her,  that  all 
should  go  to  the  man  and  help  to  bear  his  load.  Corning  towards  him,  St. 
Brigid  said  :  "  Let  us  bear  your  burden,  for  it  causes  you  to  stoop  greatly." 
The  man  replied,  however,  that  the  weight  of  his  load  did  not  cause  his 
curvature,  but  an  old  malady,  which  had  troubled  him  during  his  earlier  days. 
Enquiring  about  the  name  of  this  virgin,  who  accosted  him,  he  was  told  she 
was  the  holy  Brigid.  Thereupon,  he  replied  ;  "  I  give  thanks  to  God,  that  I 
have  found  her  whom  I  have  sought."  4°  Then,  he  addressed  our  abbess, 
asking  her  to  pray  to  the  Almighty  for  him,  that  his  bodily  defect  might  be 
removed.  This  pious  lady  told  him  to  enter  a  hospice,  where  he  should  rest 
for  the  night,  and  afterwards,  that  he  should  obtain  his  request.  During  that 
night,  our  Saint  importuned  the  Almighty  on  his  behalf.*1  The  following 
morning,  she  said  to  the  man  ;  "  Go  to  the  river,*2  and,  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  wash  yourself,  praying  to  God,  and  I  promise,  that  you  shall  be  able 
to  hold  your  neck  erect.  Until  I  desire  you  to  do  so,  take  care  .not  to 
depart  from  that  place."  Obeying  the  holy  virgin's  injunctions,  that  man, 
who  had  been  curved  for  eighteen  years,  was  miraculously  restored.43  After 
wards,  as  in  duty  bound,  he  gave  heartfelt  thanks  to  God  and  to  St. 
Brigid.44 

On  a  particular  day,  the  holy  woman  met  an  insane  person,  running  from  one 
place  to  another.  In  his  paroxysms  of  frenzy,  this  maniac  caused  great 
annoyance  to  all  that  crossed  his  path.  When  our  Saint  saw  him,  she  ad 
dressed  him  in  these  words:  "  O  man,  announce  to  me  the  words  of  Christ 
Jesus,  our  Lord.'"45  Although  the  companions  of  St.  Brigid  feared  very  much 
the  result  ;  yet,  they  had  great  confidence  in  the  holy  Virgin's  gifts  of  grace. 
The  frenzied  man  at  once  became  collected  in  his  thoughts.  He  then  said 
to  the  saintly  abbess  :  "  O  holy  Brigid,  I  obey  thee.  Love  God,  and  all  will 
love  thee ;  honour  God,  and  all  will  honour  thee  ;  fear  God,  and  all  will  fear 


to  546.  Baiano,  in  Campania,  there  may  have  been 

35  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His-  some  natural  curative  properties  in  its  waters, 
tory  of  Ireland,"  vol  i.,  chap.  IK.,  sec.  iv.,  n.  while  the  Abbess  had  her  own  part  in  the 
65,  pp.  449,  450.  working  of  this  miracle.      See  ibid,  pp.  312, 

36  Supposed  by  Colgan,  to  have  been  St.  313. 

Brigid  oi  Cluain-fidhe,   whose  life  is  to  be  4j  In  the  supplement  for  use  of  the  Irish 

found,  at  the  30;)!  of  September.  clergy,  postfixed  to  "BreviariumRomanum," 

37  See  ii.  Corinthians,  xi.  29,  30.  Pars  Hiemalis,  we  read,    "  leprosos  sncpius 

38  This    circumstance    shows     the    place  mundavit,    et  variis  languoribus  segrotanti- 
could  not  have  been  Kildare.  bus   sanitatem   suis  precibus  impetravit." — 

39  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  imagines,  Die.    i.    Februarii.     Officium     S.    Brigidae. 
that  St.    Brigid  was  then  engaged  superin-  Noct.  ii.,Lect.  vi. 

tending  some  operatives,  who  were  building  44  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

a  church  or  monastic  establishment  for  her.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigiclas,  Jib.  ii.,  cap.  xxvi., 

See  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  p.  553.  See  also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidje, 

Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quarto,  p.  309.  cap.  Ivi.,  p.  533,  ibid.  Vita  Sexta  S.  Bri- 

D  See  //>/,/.  p.  310.  gidcc.  sec.  lix.,  p.  594.  ibid. 

1  See  ibid.  p.  311.  45  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo Certani's  "La 

42  Certani  thinks,  that  like  the  baths  at  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  133 


thee.''-*6      When  he  had  spoken  these  words,  he  lied  away,  with  loud  out 
cries.-^ 

One  rainy  day,  after  serving  as  a  shepherdess,  St.  Erigid  had  returned  to 
her  cell,  her  garments  being  saturated  \viih  rain.-*3  After  a  \vhile,  the  sun 
began  to  shine,  and  one  of  its  rays  penetrating  the  wall  of  this  cell,  appeared 
to  our  saint  as  a  line,4^  for  holding  clothes. =°  On  this  she  placed  her  moist 
garments.51  At  the  time,  a  certain  wise  and  pious  man  preached  God's  holy 
word,  while  the  Saint's  attention  was  so  entirely  engaged  by  his  precepts  of 
instruction,  that  totally  forgetlul  of  all  earthly  concerns,  midnight  found  her 
in  the  same  entranced  attitude.52  To  this  unusual  period  the  sun's  rays  re 
mained  within  her  cell,5-5  while  the  garments  of  our  holy  abbess  hung  thereon, 
until  a  certain  inmate  of  the  house  reminded  her  respecting  that  error  of  visual 
sense.54  This  miracle  is  alluded  to  in  various  offices  of  St.  iJrigid.55  In  some 
of  her  lives,  it  is  added,  that  certain  persons,  journey  ing  by  night  through  the 
Liffey  plains,  related  how  they  saw  these  rays  brightening  the  whole  cham 
paign,  until  those  arrived,  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  at  St.  Drigid;s  cell. 
Then,  all  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  admired  all  the  miraculous  manifestations 
of  Brigid'i  sanctity.56 

In  honour  of  a  certain  great  festival,  the  holy  Abbess  had  prepared  a. 
sumptuous  banquet.  Yet,  before  the  time  for  its  intended  consumption  had 
arrived,  she  distributed  the  viands  among  some  poor  visitors.  The  nuns  of 
our  Saint's  monastery  regretted  this  occurrence,  as  many  persons  were  ex 
pected  to  come,  on  occasion  of  their  solemnity.  Brigid  prayed  to  the  Lord 
that  night ;  and,  it  so  happened,  a  rich  inhabitant,  living  within  that  district, 
had  been  conveying  in  waggons  certain  viands,57  which  were  provided  for 
the  king.58  Having  lost  the  way,  however,  it  yet  chanced,  that  rich  neigh 
bour  came  directly  to  the  gate  of  St.  Lrigid's  monastery.  Concerning  this 
circumstance,  God's  devoted  servant,  being  preternaturally  admonished,  went 
out  to  meet  him,  and  to  enquire  about  his  destination.  The  fortuitous  visitor 
was  inspired  to  offer  the  whole  of  his  store  to  the  Abbess,  and  he  told  her, 


Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  341  to  343.  -'See  Camerarius,   "  De  Statu  Ilominis 

40  The    Rev.    S.    Baring-Gould,    who,   in  Veteris  simul  ac  nova'   Lcclesia,  et  Sanctis 

his  account  of  St.    Brigid,  relate*  the  lore-  Kcgui   Scotia-,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,   sec.    ii.,  p. 

going  incident,  also  adds  :    ''  NYas  there  ever  140. 

a  better  sermon  preached  in  fewer  words?"  5J  See  Abbatc  D.  Giacomo  Certani.'s  "La 

—  "Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.  February  Santiia    I'rodigiosa.       Vita   di    S.    Brigida 

1st,  p.  2O.  Ibernese/''     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  479,  480. 

47  See  Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  53  See  Rev.  S.   Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of 
VitaQuarta  S.  Brigida.    Lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxv.,  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.     February  i.,  p.  19. 

p.  555.     Also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida-,  cap.  -4  The  account  in  the  Third  Lile  exactly 

Ixv.,  p.    534.  Coincides   with  that    recorded   in   the    text. 

48  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Vita  Tertia  S. 
Vita  S.  Brigida,   lib.   ii.,   cap.  xv.,    p.  552.  Jirigichv,  cap.  xcii.,  p.  539.      This  miracle  is 
In  the  First  Metrical  Lile,  we  are  told,   she  related,   likewise,   in  the  Fifth  Lile,  with  a 
returned    from    tending   her   sheep.       This  greater  amount  of  amplification,  ibid.     Vita 
duty  had   caused    the   rain    to   drench    her  Ouinta  S.  Brigida.',  cap.  xliii.,  pp.  577,  578. 
garments.     Ibid.     Vita   Prima  S.    Brigida-,  See,  also,  Vila  Sexta  S.   Brigitia,  sec.  vii., 
sec.  17,  p.  516.  p.  583,  ibid. 

49  In  the  Second  Life,  this  same  occupa-  -5  I'etrus  de  Natalibus  has  a  similar  ac 
tion  is  assigned  as  a  cause  lor  her  exposure  count.       See  also  De  Burgo's  "  Qllicia  Pro- 
to  the  shower  ;  but,   it   is  there  stated,  that  pria    Sanctorum    llibernia-.      i.    Februarii, 
through    a  defect  of  vision,   she  saw  not  a  OfikiumS.  Brigida1,  Moct.  ii  ,  Lect.  v.,  p.  12. 
line,  but  a   tree,    taking   the  torm  of  a  sun-  -"See,  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Vita  Ter- 
beam. —/&'</.  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  lia  S.    Brigida;,  cap.   xciii.,    p.   539.     Vita 
vii.,  p.  519.  (^uarta  S.  Brigida;,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xvi.,  p.  552. 

50  The  legends  in  several  cases — as  in  the  57  And,   as  we  are  informed,  these  were 
present  instance — give  us  an  insight  regard-  furni-hed  to  celebrate  that  festival. 

ing  many  domestic  usages  of  our  ancestors.  5ci  1'robably  the  King   of  Leinster.     His 


i34  LlfE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


it  was  a  Providential  circumstance,  that  he  had  thus  strayed,  although  in  a 
well-known  country.  He  promised,  likewise,  to  prepare  some  other  provi 
sions  for  his  lord,  the  king.  Receiving  an  account  of  what  had  happened, 
the  latter  transferred  that  villager,  with  all  his  family,  to  serve  God  and  the 
holy  virgin,  Brigid,  as  a  perpetual  vassal,  living  on  her  own  property.  The 
king,  moreover,  sent  another  waggon,  loaded  with  provisions,  for  the  use  of 
our  saint,  on  occasion  of  this  great  solemnity,  so  that  she  was  fully  enabled 
to  supply  the  wants  of  all  her  guests. 59  The  holy  abbess  thus  realized,  even 
in  a  material  way,  the  force  of  these  Gospel  words,  that  for  religious  fidelity 
she  should  receive  an  hundred  fold.60  A  certain  queen,61  among  other 
valuable  presents  to  St.  Brigid,  had  presented  her  with  an  ornamental  silver 
chain.62  Having  received  our  Saint's  blessing,  that  queen  returned  home, 
while  Brigid's  nuns,  taking  the  chain  from  the  hands  of  their  abbess, 
deposited  it  among  their  church  treasures.  Yet,  as  the  holy  abbess  was 
accustomed  to  distribute  all  her  possessions  to  the  poor,  a  destitute  person 
coming  to  her  received  the  aforesaid  chain.63  Our  saint  took  it  from  her 
church  valuables,  as  she  had  nothing  else  to  bestow.  Brigid's  nuns,  on 
learning  this,  said  to  their  superioress,  "  O  mother,  owing  to  your  generosity, 
we  lose  whatever  God  gives  us  through  charitable  Christians  ;  for,  you 
leave  us  nothing,  since  you  bestow  all  upon  the  poor."  To  evade  their  re 
monstrances,  our  Saint  said  :  "  My  daughters,  whilst  I  remain  in  the  church, 
go  and  seek  your  chain, 6+  which,  perhaps,  you  will  find."  Obeying  her  com 
mands,  they  found  a  chain,  exactly  resembling  the  one  which  had  been  given 
away.  Then  they  presented  it  to  St.  Brigid,  asking  her  pardon.  The  holy 
abbess  replied:  "  Give  earthly  things  to  God  :  He  will  return  you  earthly  and 
heavenly  favours. ;;65  The  nuns  ever  afterwards  preserved,  that  chain,66  as  a 
standing  memorial  of  the  extraordinary  charity  characterizing  their  holy 
superioress.  A  certain  leper,  belonging  to  the  race  of  Neill,6?  coming  to  St. 


name  or  district,  however,  is  not  recorded,  conclusive  evidences  of  our  early   civiliza- 

in    St.    Brigid's    ancient    Lives ;    although,  tion. 

Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani — who  chroni-  °4  The  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  re- 

cles  these  incidents — makes  all  this  occur  at  lating  these  occurrences,  without  any  seem- 

Kildare,    without    any    apparent  authority.  ing  warrant,  but  the  promptings  of  his  own 

See   "La   Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  bright   Italian    imagination,    converts    the 

Brigida  Ibernese."     Libra  Quarto,  pp.  280  "chain  of  silver  "  in  St.  Brigid's  ancient 

to  283.  Lives  into  "  Collana  d'oro,"  or  "a  golden 

59  See      "Trias     Thaumaturga."       Vila  necklace."       See  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 
Quarta  S.    Brigida:,  lib.   ii.,  cap.    xvii.,  p.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quarto, 
552.     Vita  Tertia  S.    Brigidse,  cap.  xlix.,  pp.  283  to  287. 

p.  532,  ibid.      Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigida:,  sec.  6s  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Vita  Quar- 

xli.,  pp.  590,  591,  ibid.  ta   S.  Brigida:,  lib.  ii.,   cap.    xviii.,   p.  552. 

60  St.  Luke,  vi.  38.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  1.,  p.  532,  ibid. 

61  Her  name  or  place  of  residence  is  not  Vita  Sexta  S.   Brigida:,  sec.  xlii.,  p.  591. 
given,  in  St.  Brigid's  Latin  Lives.     But,  in  ibid. 

Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  the  Saint,  66  In  the  Metrical  Acts,  we  have  follow- 

she  is  called  the  Queen  of  Crimthan,  son  ing  minute  description  of  this  ornament : 
of   Enna    Cennsellach,    King   of    Leinster. 

See  pp.  35,  36.      From  this  we  may  pro-  "  Vertice  cui  summo  fuerat  formata  figura 
bably  draw  an  inference,  that  St.  Brigid  was  Humani  capitis  :  subtilis  lucet  imago 

then  living  somewhere  in  the  east  or  south-  Filis  argenti  preciosa,  ac  textilis  hamis 

east  of  Leinster.  Spherula    in    alternis     fulvis   prsefulgida 

62  It  is  said  to  have  had  the  figure  of  a  gcmmis." 
man  attached  to  one  of  its  ends. 

_63  Almost   daily  are    objects   of    ancient  From  the  foregoing  minute  description,  this 

Irish  art  and  ornament  among  "  the  finds  "  chain  must  have  been  elaborately  and  richly 

of  our  rural  population  ;  and,  several  most  fashioned. 

interesting  specimens  have  found  their  place  6?  This  leper  appears  to   have  belonged 

in  our  museums.      These  furnish  the  most  to  the  territory  of  Meath,  which  is  usually 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  135 


Brigid,  asked  her  for  a  cow  and  calf,  which  the  abbess  directed  her  herdsman 
to  give.  He  enquired  from  our  saint,  what  sort  of  a  cow  and  calf  he  should 
select.  She  told  him  to  choose  the  best  out  of  their  herd.63  Then  the  herd- 
man  and  the  leper  selected  those  of  prime  shape  and  condition.  Yet,  they 
found  it  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  to  separate  the  calf  from  a  particular  cow 
belonging  to  the  herd,  although  that  cow  was  not  its  dam.  This  was  told  to 
the  saint  by  the  poor  leper,  when  Brigid  desired  one  of  her  servants,6^  then 
engaged  at  cooking, 7°  to  go  and  assist  him  in  driving  home  those  animals. 
Her  servant  enquired,  who  had  been  left  to  cook,  when  our  abbess  said,  he 
should  return  to  take  charge  of  that  work,  within  a  very  short  time.  The 
man  did  as  he  had  been  desired,  and,  with  the  leper,  he  accomplished  a 
journey  usually  occupying  of  two  days,  but  he  effected  it  within  an  hour. 
Their  destination  was  towards  the  north,  and  to  a  place,  called  Brigh-Chob- 
thuigh  Chaoil.71  It  escapes  our  present  power  of  identification.  On  return 
ing  to  St.  Brigid,  her  servant  found  the  flesh-meat  in  the  cauldron,  but  not 
yet  cooked.  These  miraculous  events  are  accorded  to  St.  Brigid's  merits. 
All,  to  whom  they  became  known,  were  greatly  edified. "J 

A  certain  king,  accompanied  by  a  large  retinue,  came  to  celebrate  the 
feast  of  Pentecost,  where  St.  Brigid  lived.73  He  spent  the  eve  of  this  festival 
with  her.  On  the  following  morning,  having  heard  Mass,  he  set  out,  with 
his  horsemen  and  chariots,  for  his  own  castle.  When  this  day's  solemnities 
had  been  celebrated,  according  to  custom,  our  pious  abbess  superintended 
those  tables  that  were  set  for  the  abundant  refection  of  rich  and  poor.  But, 
among  the  number  of  her  guests,  an  insolent  or  a  demented  leper,7^  through 
some  whimsical  impulse,  refused  to  partake  of  foot),  if  he  did  not  first 
obtain  a  spear  /s  which  belonged  to  the  king.  The  leper  was  asked,  why  he 
had  not  demanded  it,  on  the  previous  day ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  all  who 
were  present  pressed  him  to  eat.  They  could  not,  however,  procure  his 
compliance.  The  leper  remarked,  it  was  only  on  the  present  occasion  he 
desired  that  gift.  The  compassionate  abbess  could  not  bring  herself  to  par 
take  of  food,  while  that  leper  was  fasting.  She  immediately  despatched 
messengers  on  horseback  after  the  king,  to  ask  his  spear  as  a  gift.  These 
set  out,  and  overtook  the  dynast,  as  he  was  crossing  the  ford  of  a  small 
stream.  There  they  preferred  our  saint's  request.76  The  king  joyfully  pre 
sented  his  spear  to  them,  with  the  remark,  that  he  would  give  up  all  his 


called  in  St.  Brigid's  Lives,  "  regio  ncpotum  Brigi<1;c,  sec.  xlv.,  p.  592. 

Neill,"  that  is,   of  the  Southern    O'Neills.  73  The  Abbate  IX  Giacomo  Certani  writes: 

The   Northern  O'Neills  prineipally  lived  in  "  II  Re  della  Lagena  era  venuto  a  Killda- 

Ultonia  or  Ulster,  during  our  Saint's  life-  ria,"  &c.  — La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

time.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  '.'>.   Brigida    Ibernese."     Libro   Quarto,    p. 

n.  26,  p.  543.  303.    Vet,  although  it  may  fairly  be  inferred, 

M  These  incidents  are  related,  as  if  occur-  that  he  was  the  King  of  Leinster,  that  he 

ring  while   St.    Brigid    was   at    Kildare — a  came  to  Kildare,    on  this  occasion,  cannot 

gratuitous,  yet   a  probable  supposition — of  be    established    from    those    accounts    con- 

Abbate   D.    Giacomo    Certani.       See    "La  tained  in  St.  Brigid's  more  ancient  Lives. 

Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita   di    S.    Brigida  '4  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  29010292.  St.   Brigid,   pp.   35,   36,  lie  is  called   "  Lo- 

69  The  Third  Life  calls  him  a  carter  or  man,  Brigid's  leper,"  as  if  he  were  some 
groom.  person  kept  in  her   employment,    or  some 

70  As  we  are  told,  the  servant  was  boiling  charitably  maintained  poor  simpleton,  whose 
some  meat  in  a  cauldron.  mind     and     body     were    wasted    through 

71  See    Colgan's    "  Trias    Thaumaturga."  disease. 

Prima  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  stanza  26,  p.  516.  75  Several  fine  specimens  of  ancient  bronze 

72  See  ibid.      Secunda  Vita  S.    Brigidrc,  and   iron  spear-heads  are  yet  preserved  in 
cap.  xvi.,  p.  520.     Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigida:,  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  Museum. 

cap.  lii.,  p.  532.     Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidte,  7"  So  explained    by   Colgan,    in   a   note, 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxii.,  p.  553.     Scxta  Vita  S.  See,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidie,  n.  29,  p.  543. 


i36 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


arms,  if  Brigid  required  him.  Our  saint's  messengers  then  asked  what 
caused  a  delay,  which  prevented  the  king  from  proceeding  further  on  his 
journey.  His  retinue  replied,  although  riding  much,  they  knew  God's  pro 
vidence  had  delayed  them,  that  Brigid  might  be  released  from  the  leper's 
importunity.  Giving  praise  to  God  and  to  our  saint,  the  royal  cortege  soon 
arrived  at  their  home.  Her  messengers  returned  to  the  holy  abbess  with 
the  king's  spear.  This  she  immediately  handed  to  the  leper.  Then,  the 
saint  and  her  guests  partook  of  the  banquet  provided,77  and  while  thankin°- 
the  Almighty  for  favours  received,78  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt,  she  felt 
grateful  to  the  high-minded  and  generous  dynast,  who  had  so  great  a  re 
verence  for  his  pious  hostess. 

Unless  referred  to  an  early  period  of  her  life,  it  is  very  difficult  to  recon 
cile  with  exact  chronology  the  following  statements,  contained  in  St.  Brigid's 
Acts.  The  holy  abbess  possessed  that  benign  and  ingenious  power,  which 
could  pacify  those  fiery  and  passionate  spirits,  whose  ebullitions  gave  rise  to 
so  many  private  and  public  quarrels.  Her  blessing  was  the  harbinger  of 
peace. 79  One  day,  walking  near  the  road-side.  Connall,  son  to  Niall — sup 
posed  to  be  the  Monarch  of  the  Nine  Hostages — came  towards  Brigid,  who 
was  accompanied  by  her  nuns.  Now,  the  last-mentioned  celebrated  king 
had  two  sons£o  so  named  ;  one  being  distinguished  as  Connall  Crimthann,81 
while  the  other  was  called  Connall  Gulban.82  As  the  latter8^  died,  A.D.  464,®* 


77  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumnturga. " 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigi'ku,  lib.,  ii.,  cap.  xxv. , 
p.  553.  See  also.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidte, 
cap.  lv.,  p.  533,  ibid. 

7s  See  the  Abbate  IX  Gincomo  Oertani's 
account  of  the  foregoing  occurrences  in  "  La 
Sanlita  Procligiosa.  Vita  cli  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."  Libro  Quarto,  pp.  303  to  308. 

79  See  L.  Tachet  do  Barnevai's  "  Ilistoire 
Legendaire  de  1'Irlande,"  chap,   viii.,  pp. 
So,  Si. 

80  Their  respective  deaths  are  commemo 
rated,  in  Dr.  O' Donovan's   "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i. 

81  Conall  Cremthoinn  was  ancestor  to  the 
O'Melaghlins,   who  bore  the  tribe-name  of 
Clann-Colmain,    and   to  other  ancient  and 
powerful    families    in    Meath.       From    this 
prince    were     descended     seventeen     Irish 
monarchs.     There  were   nine   monarchs  of 
Ireland,    belonging    to    the    race    of    Aedh 
Slaine,   who  was   himself  monarch   of  Ire 
land,    from  A.D.  599   to   605.       When   sur 
names  had   been   established,    the  chief  fa 
mily  of  his  race  took  the  surname  of  O'Kelly 
Breagh.     This  clan  settled  in  the  great  plain 
of  Bregia,  towards  the  east  of  ancient  Meath. 
See  O'Flaherty's  "  Ogygia,"  pars  iii.,  cap. 
Ixxxv.,  p.  410,  and  cap.  xciii.,  p.  431. 

82  The    Cinel-Conaill,     or    Conall's  race, 
are    the    O'Donnells   and    their  correlative 
families,    in   Tyrconnell,    or    the    county  of 
Donegall  ;  while  Magh-Slecht  was  the  plain 
around    Ballymagauran,   in    the    north-west 
part  of  Cavan  County.      Here  Conall    Gul 
ban  was  killed   by  the   Masraidhe,   an    an 
cient  Firbolg  tribe,  who  lived  in  that  place, 
as  the    Book    of  Fenagh    mentions.       The 
prince    had   gone   into  their  territory  on  a 
predatory  excursion,  and   he   had  seized  a 


great  prey  of  horses  ;  but,  he  was  pursued 
and  overtaken  at  Loch  Saloch,  near  Fe 
nagh,  in  the  county  of  Leitrim.  Here,  he 
was  slain  and  buried.  The  account  of 
Conall  Gulban  having  been  buried  by  St. 
Cailiin  is  said  to  be  an  anachronism  and  a 
fabrication  of  the  writer  of  St.  Caillin's 
Life,  preserved  in  the  "Book  of  Fenagh." 
St.  Cailiin  is  reputed  a  contemporary  of  St. 
Columkille,  and  consequently  he'  could 
hardly  have  been  born  in  464,  much  less 
have  been  abbot  of  Fenagh  in  Magh-Rein. 
There  is  much  to  be  read  — not,  however,  of 
a  very  well-authenticated  character -- re 
garding  Conall  Gulban  in  "The  Book  of 
Fenagh."  in  Irish  and  English,  originally 
compiled  by  St.  Cailiin,  Archbishop,  Ab 
bot,  anil  Founder  of  Fenagh  alias  Dunbally 
of  Moy-Rein,  temp  ore  S.  1'atricii ;  with  the 
contractions  resolved,  and  (as  far  as  pos 
sible)  the  original  Text  restored.  The 
whole  carefully  revised,  indexed,  and  cor 
rectly  annotated,  by  \V.  M..  Hennessy, 
M.R.I.  A.,  and  done' into  English  by  D.  H. 
Kelly,  M.R.I. A.  See  pp.  89,  91,  93,  95, 
97,  139,  141,  143,  147,  155,  157,  159,  161, 
225,  235,  243,  253,265,  313,  317,  323,  325, 
359,  395.  405,  409- 

83  In  Dr.  O'Conors  "  Rerum   Hibernica- 
rum  Scriptores,"  at  A.  0.464,  we  find,  in  the 
hiatus,    which    supplies    the     "Annals    of 
Tigernach,"    an    account    of   the    death    of 
Conallus  Gulban,  from  whom  the  family  of 
Tir-Connel  derives  its  origin.     Seep.  113, 
tomus  ii. 

84  In   Dr.    O'Donovan's   "Annals  of   the 
Four    Masters,"    at    A.D.    464,   we    read  : 
li  Conall  Gulban,  son   of  Xiall  of  the  Nine 
Hostages    (troin  whom    are    descended  the 
Cinel-Conaill),  was  slain  by   the  old  tribes 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


137 


and  as  the  former  lived  to  A.D.  4J5,S5  or  even  later  ;S6  it  is  only  reasonable  to 
suppose,  that  Conall  Crimthann  was  the  prince,  who  addressed  the  abbess  in 
these  terms  :  "  O  holy  virgin,  bestow  on  me  your  special  benediction,  lest 
my  brother  Carbrey8?  kill  me,  on  account  of  the  kingdom."  God's  pious 
servant  said  to  him  :  "  Let  your  soldiers  precede  me,  and  I  will  bless  you, 
following  them/''  At  her  request,  the  soldiers  preceded  them,  on  their 
march.  When  the  whole  company  advanced  through  the  hills,  one  of  her 
nuns  said  to  St.  Brigid  :  "'  O  mother,  what  shall  we  do  ?  Behold.  Carbrey,88 
the  brother  of  this  prince,  approaches,  and  these  brothers  will  strike 
each  other.'''  Our  saint  replied,  that  the  Almighty  would  prevent  such  an 
accident. S5  At  the  same  time,  Carbrey  came  up  to  Brigid,  and  he  said  to 
her  :  "'  O  holy  virgin,  bless  me,  because  I  fear  meeting  my  brother  Conall,9° 
in  these  parts.'''  A  film  was  drawn  over  the  brothers'  eyes.91  Afterwards,  all 
went  together  with  the  abbess,  while  the  hostile  brothers  did  not  recognise 
each  other,  owing  to  our  saint's  prayers. 92  At  length,  parting  in  different 
directions,  the  brothers  Connall^  and  Carbrey94  even  kissed  each  other,  as 


of  Magh-Slecht,  he  having  been  found  un 
protected,  and  he  wa>  buried  at  Fidhnach- 
Maighe-Rein,  by  St.  Cuillin,  a-;  the  life  of 
the  aforesaid  saint  relates." — Vol.  i.,  p.  147. 
Also,  see  "The  liook  of  Fenagh,"  edited 
by  W.  M.  Ilennessy  and  J).  II.  Kelly,  pp. 
96,  97. 

*2  In  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Makers,"  at  A.I).  475,  \ve  find: 
"Conall  Cremhthoinn,  son  of  Xia.l  of  t he- 
Nine  Hostages,  Ironi  \vlioni  arc  sprung  the 
Clanu  Colniain,  and  the  race  of  Aedh  Slaine, 
died."— Vol.  i.,  p.  140. 

86  At  the  year  480,   the   ''Ulster   Annals" 
record  the  death  of  Conaill  me    Cremtainne 
me  Xeill.     In  a  note,  Dr.  O'Conor  observes, 
that   the  territory    of  Tyrconnel;  derived  its 
name  from  him.   See  "  Kenim  Iliberiiicarum 
Scriptores,"  tomtis  iv. ,    p.    6,   and    n.    ibid. 
This    is    incorrect,  however,  as  all  Iri-h  ge 
nealogists  and  historians   are   unanimous   in 
Stating,  'I'yrconnell  dUtrct  deriveil  its  name 
from  his  brother,  Connall  (nilhan. 

87  At  A.D.  500,    the   "  Annais   of  Ulster" 
state,  that  Carbre,  the   son  of  Xeill,  fought 
the    battle    (if   the    \Ylrite   liill    or    Clmuic 
Ailbe   against    the    Lein-te:  men.       See   Dr. 
O'Conor's    "  Rerum    Hibernicarum    Scrip- 
tores,"  tomus  iv..  p.   10. 

83  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Ilrigid,"  by  an 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  121,  122. 

8^CoIgan  remarks,  that  it  is  doubtful 
which  Conall  had  been  mentioned  in  the 
text  ;  whether  Conall  Gulban,  or  Conall 
Cremthainn.  lie  thinks,  that  the  quarrel, 
here  alluded  to  between  Conall  and  his  bro 
ther  Carpry  or  Carbrey,  must  have  had  re 
ference  to  some  extension  or  arrangement  of 
territory.  At  this  period,  Carbrey  held  a 
tract  of  country,  ca  led  after  his  own  name 
Carbre,  even  to  times  less  remote.  It  was 
situated  in  the  province  of  Connaught,  and  it 
lay  conterminous  to  the  principality  of 
Conall  Cjulban.  lie  had  another  tract  in 
the  district  of  Tefua,  near  the  bounds  of 


Conall  Cremthoinn's  lands  in  Meath.  For 
merly  this  tract  was  called  Carbre  Teflia,  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  other. 

''"  On  both  the  foregoing  accounts,  Carbrey 
could  be  committed  to  a  quarrel  with  either 
Conall  ;  yet,  Colgan  thinks  the  dispute  in 
question  lay  between  him  and  Conall  Crim 
thann,  for  these  reasons.  As  St.  Brigid  is 
supposed  to  have  been  born  in  453,  she  was 
not  a  nun,  and  could  only  have  been  twelve 
years  of  age,  at  the  time  of  Conall  Gulban's 
death,  in  464,  while  she  was  an  abbess,  and 
distinguished  for  her  miracles,  about  the  year 
475,  \\lu-n  Conall  Crimthann  is  thought  to 
have  died.  See  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Terlia  S.  Urigichu,  n.  38,  p.  544- 

'''  See  the  account  of  this  adventure  in  L. 
Tachet  de  Barneval's  "  Ilistoire  Le'gendaire 
de  1'Irlande,"  chap,  viii.,  pp.  77,  "jS. 

tj-  At  A.  I).  475.  the  '•  Annals  of  Inisfallen" 
— changing  the  lorm  of  his  name — note  the 
demise  of  McConailie,  me  Cremthaine,  meic 
Neill.  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiber 
nicarum  Scripture^,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

''"•  Again,  in  the  hiatus,  which  supplies  the 
"  Annals  of  Tigernach,"  as  if  according  with 
the  Four  Masters  nnd  the  "  Chronicum  Sco- 
toium,''  at  A.D.  475,  is  noted  the  death  of 
Conal  us  Crimthan,  son  to  Niall  of  the 
Nine  Hostages, from  whom  the  Clan-Colman 
O'Neills  are  derived,  and  the  race  of  Aedh 
Slane.  Seep  116,  ibid. 

54  This  is  said  to  have  been  the  same  Car 
brey  or  Carprey,  an  infidel,  who  refused  to 
receive  baptism,  at  St.  Patrick's  hands,  and 
on  whom  a  malediction  was  pronounced  by 
the  Irish  Apostle.  See  William  M.  Hen- 
newsy's  translation  of  the  Irish  Tripartite 
Life  of  St.  Patrick,  part  ii.,  in  Miss  M.  F. 
Cusack's  "Life  of  St.  Patrick,  Apostle  of 
Ireland,"  p.  .96.  Vet,  he  must  have  re 
pented  at  a  subsequent  period — probably  he 
received  baptism  and  became  a  Christian  ; 
as  otherwise,  it  is  not  likely  he  would  have 
asked  a  blessing  from  St.  Brigid. 


OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


if  they  had  been  most  devoted  friends.?5  When  this  occurrence  became 
fully  known,  God's  holy  providence  and  the  fame  of  St.  Brigid,  as  a  peace 
maker,  were  universally  extolled. 96 

Again,  a  legend  was  in  vogue,  that  on  another  occasion,  when  about  to 
invade  the  country  of  the  Picts.9?  who  often  warred  with  the  Britons,1?8  this 
same  Conall,  accompanied  by  his  soldiers,  bearing  their  hostile  emblems  or 
standards,^  came  to  St.  Brigid.  He  then  said  :  "  O  Saint  of  God,  we  crave 
your  blessing,  for  we  are  about  to  invade  distant  territories  to  defeat  our 
enemies/'  The  saint  replied  :  "  I  entreat  the  Omnipotent  Lord,  my  God, 
that,  in  this  instance,  you  neither  inilict  injury  on  any  one,  nor  suffer  it  your 
selves,  wherefore  lay  aside  those  diabolical  emblems."  Although  she  was  un 
able  to  prevent  the  war,  God  was  graciously  pleased  to  grant  those  prayers 
of  the  holy  virgin.  On  hearing  her  words,  the  hostile  bands  sailed  for  the 
country  of  the  Crutheni,100  in  the  northern  part  of  Britain.101  Then,  the  Irish 
invaders  thought  they  had  taken  possession  of  a  certain  entrenched  camp  or 
castle,102  besieged  by  them,  that  they  had  burned  it,  and  had  killed  many  of 
their  enemies,  who  were  beheaded.103  Afterwards,  the  leader  and  his 


93  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Ccrtani's  "La 
Santita  Frodigiosa.  Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto,  pp.  343  to  346. 

96  See  Colgan's    '*  Trias    Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxvi., 
p.  555-     Also,  Vita  TertiaS.  Brigidae,  cap. 
Ixvi.,  p.  534,  ibid. 

97  A    learned    and     researchful    Scottish 
writer  has  observed,  that  the  Pictish  period 
of  Caledonian  history  embraces  a  course  of 
three  hundred  and  ninety-seven  years,  viz., 
from  the  date  of  the  Roman  abdication  of 
the  government  of  North  Britain,  A.  D.  446,  to 
the  subversion  of  the  Pictish  government,  A.  D. 
843.   He  adds,  "  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that 
the  Picts  were  Celts,  and  that  they  were  no 
other  than  a  part  of  the  race  of  the  ancient 
Caledonians    under    another    name.'' — "A 
History  of  the  Highlands  and  of  the  High 
land    Clans,"    by    James     Browne,     Esq., 
LL.  D.,  vol.  L,  chap,  iii.,  p.  60. 

'J*  I1" or  nearly  forty  years  after  the  rule  of 
Constantine  III.,  the  Britons  languished 
under  a  continual  war,  during  the  earlier 
part  of  the  fifth  century.  See  Sir  Winston 
Churchhill's  "  Divi  Britannici :  being  a 
Remark  upon  the  Lives  of  all  the  Kings  of 
this  Isle,  from  the  year  of  the  World  2855, 
unto  the  year  of  Grace  1660."  Sect.  i. 
Class  of  Britones.  Vortigern,  p.  93. 

99  Extern  to  any  evidence  contained  in  the 
ancient  Lives  of  St.  Brigid,  the  Abbate  D. 
Giacomo  Certani — who  records  these  inci 
dents—asserts,  that  the  standards  were  orna 
mented  with  the  figures  of  some  false  Gods, 
and  that  they  were  inscribed  with  magical 
characters.  Sec  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  cli  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."  Libro  Quinto, 
pp.  346  to  348. 

uo  The  Picts  were  called  Cruithne,  by  the 
ancient  Irish,  in  the  idiom  of  this  latter 
people.  They  are  also  called  Cruachna, 
being  the  older  Pictish  or  Celtic  race  of 
Scotland.  See  Daniel  Wilson's  "  Archae 


ology  and  Prehistoric  Annals  of  Scotland," 
part  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  59. 

101  "  The  geographical  position  of  the 
British  and  Irish  coasts  sufficiently  accounts 
for  frequent  intercourse  between  the  natives 
of  Scotland  and  Ireland  from  the  earliest 
periods."  ...  "  The  remarkable  an 
cient  historical  Gaelic  poem,  generally  termed 
the  ALBANIC  DUAN,  written  in  its  present 
form  in  the  reign  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  about 
the  middle  of  the  eleventh  century,  thus  re 
fers  to  the  first  peopling  of  Scotland  and 
the  Irish  origin  of  the  northern  Picts  : — 

"  Ye  learned  of  all  Albin, 
Ye  wise  yellow-haired  race, 
Learn  who  was  the  first 
To  acquire  the  districts  of  Albin. 

"  Albanus  acquired  them  with  his  race, 
The  illustrious  son  of  Isiscon, 
Brother  to  Britus,  without  treachery, 
From  him  Albin  of  ships  takes  its  name. 


"  The  Cruithne  acquired  the  western  region, 
After  they  had  come   from  the  plains  of 

Erin  : 

Seventy  noble  kings  of  them 
Acquired  the  Cruithen  plains." 

— See  ibid.,  part  iv.,  chap,  i.,  p.  468. 

102  A  distinguished  modern  historian  has 
asserted  of    Scotland:    "The    country    is 
crowded    with     hill -fortresses,    small    and 
great  ;  they  may  be  counted  by  hundreds. 
They  consist  of  mounds  of  earth  or  stone, 
or  both,  running  round  the  crests  of  hills." 
— John  Hill  Burton's  "  History  of  Scotland, 
from  Agricola's  Invasion  to  the  Revolution 
of  1688,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  91. 

103  See  this  account  in  L.  Tachet  de  Bar- 
neval's  "  Histoire  Legendaire  de  1'Irlande," 
chap,  viii.,  pp.  So,  8l. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  I39 

bands  returned  to  their  own  country,  with  great  rejoicing  and  in  fancied 
triumph.  According  to  the  legendary  account,  however,  all  this  turned  out 
to  be  a  complete  illusion,  and  when  they  had  landed  at  the  port  for  which 
they  were  bound  in  Ireland,  it  was  only  then  dispelled.  This  was  soon 
learned  from  the  report  of  trustworthy  messengers.  Connell  is  said  to  have 
given  praise  to  God,  when  he  learned  that  no  loss  of  life  had  occurred.  He 
resolved  on  seeing  the-  abbess.  When  he  came  to  the  place  where  St. 
Erigid  resided, I0«  he  related  all  that  had  happened.  Then,  he  and  his 
forces  laid  aside  their  warlike  emblems,  at  St.  Brigid's  request.  She  said  to 
Conall  :  "  Because  you  have  renounced  these  badges  at  my  suggestion,  in 
whatever  danger  you  may  be  placed,  invoke  my  intercession,  and  the  Al 
mighty  will  defend  you  on  my  account,  and  you  shall  be  preserved  from 
danger."I05  This  promise  of  the  saint  was  afterwards  fulfilled.  Some  time 
subsequently,  Conall,  with  a  large  army,  invaded  the  territories  of  his  ene 
mies,  when  he  obtained  a  great  victory  over  them.106  Afterwards,  he  re 
turned  in  triumph,  towards  his  own  country.  When  Conall  had  nearly 
reached  his  own  dominions,  night  came  on,  and  he  entered  a  deserted  fort 
or  castle,  by  the  way-side.  There,  his  soldiers  remarked  to  him,  that  they 
should  incur  great  danger,  by  remaining  so  near  the  haunts  of  their  enemies. 
These,  stealing  on  them  unawares,  would  be  likely  to  follow,  and  might  kill 
them  while  sleeping.  The  prince  replied  :  "  The  night  is  now  at  hand,  and 
I  am  fatigued  ;  yet  know,  that  the  pious  Brigid  hath  promised  she  will  de 
fend  me  in  every  difficulty,  whenever  I  invoke  her  assistance.  I  believe, 
what  she  hath  predicted  must  infallibly  come  to  pass.  On  this  night,  I  com 
mend  myself  and  my  forces,  to  God's  Divine  protection,  through  her  holy 
invocation.''  As  had  been  suspected,  their  enemies  stealthily  came  that 
night  on  their  track.  When  his  pursuers  approached  that  fort  where 
Connall10?  lay,  they  sent  forward  three  scouts  to  examine  it.103  On  entering, 
these  only  found  a  great  number  of  persons  sitting  there,  in  clerical  habits,10? 
with  a  light  in  the  midst,  and  with  books  open  before  them.  The  soldiers 
had  placed  their  enemies'  heads  in  that  order,  now  represented  by  the  books, 
on  the  perusal  of  which  the  clerics  seemed  intent.110  On  returning,  his 
spies  told  their  chiefs  what  they  had  seen,  and  again  the  leaders  despatched 
three  other  scouts  to  return  and  report  the  result  of  their  errand.  As  in  the 
former  instance,  clerics  were  seen  reading  their  books.  Whereupon,  the 
band  of  ConalFs  enemies  returned  to  their  homes.  On  the  following  day, 
ambassadors  were  sent  to  Conall,111  and  these  asked  him  for  those  heads 


104  This  might  have  been  at  Kildare,  if  we  Muircheartach  Mac  Ere  were  victors.     Ard- 
accept  the  late  period  assigned   for   Conall' s  gal  was  probably  son   to  this  Connall  ;  for 
death.     The  "  Annales  Buelliani,"  atA.u.  again,  at  522,  the  battle  of  Detnea  (Conaill 
487,    enter,     "  Mors     Conaill."       See    I)r,  Chremhtaine   me  Neill)   is    entered   in    the 
O'Conor's    "  Rerum    Ilibernicarum    Scrip-  "  Ulster  Annals,"  as  if  this  might  be  a  more 
tores,"    tomus   ii.,    p.    3.      See,   also,    John  correct  date.     See  p.  13. 

D'Alton's  "  History  of  Ireland  and  the  An-  Iu8  See  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

nals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  72.  Irish  Priest,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  117,  118. 

105  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  I0s  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  relates  these 
Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita    di    S.     Brigida  adventures,  calls  those   clerics— as  in  many 
Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  348  to  351.  other  such   cases— Canons   Regular.     This, 

06  The    place    where    this    victory    was  however,    is  but  a  phantasy  of  the  author, 

gained  is  not  recorded.  See  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  S.  Bri- 

107  In  Dr.    O'Conor's    "Rerum    Iliberni-  gida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.   351  to 

carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,   the  "  Annals  354. 

of  Ulster"  relate,  at  519,  the  battle  of  Det-  I10See   L.    Tachet   de   Barneval's  "His- 

nea,  in  Drumbadh,  or  in  the  hills  of  Bregia,  toire  Legendaire  de  1'Irlande,"  chap,   viii., 

in  which  fell  Ardgal,  son  of  Conaill,  son  to  pp.  81,  "82. 

Neill.     Colga,  King  of  the   Easterns,  and  "'  From  his  great-grandson,  Colman  the 


I4o  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


which  he  had  taken  with  him,  that  so  they  might  be  interred  with  the  decapi 
tated  bodies.  On  delivering  this  message,  the  petitioners  obtained  their  de 
mand,  and  returned  to  their  chiefs.  These  learned,  afterwards,  how  Conall 
and  his  army  had  been  really  in  that  place,  where  they  remained  invisible  to 
their  pursuers.  The  legend  of  our  Saint's  Acts  relates,  that  such  circum 
stances,  becoming  known  to  the  people  on  either  side,  caused  them  to  glorify 
God's  name,  and  to  extol  that  of  Brigid."-  Thus,  where  iniquity  and  strife 
abounded,  her  gentle  and  charitable  soul  desired  that  grace  and  peace  should 
more  abound. 


CHAPTER  X. 

ANCIENT  IRISH  HOSPITALITY— BISHOP  BROON'S  VISIT  TO  ST.  BRIGID— THE  EIGHT 
BISHOPS  OF  TULLACH  NA  N-ESPUC — HOLY  BRIGID'S  LOVE  FOR  THE  POOR — HER 
GENEROUS  GOOD  NATURE — HER  GENTLENESS  OF  MANNED—ILLUSTRATION  OF 
SUCH  CHARACTERISTICS— HER  CHAPLAIN,  NATFROICH — ST.  NINNIDH— ST.  CON- 
LEATH  APPOINTED  BISHOP  OF  KILUARE. 

IN  Ireland  of  the  olden  time,  hospitality  was  a  characteristic  of  her  nobles 
and  of  her  simple-minded  people.  Each  tribe  had  its  Biatach1  and  its  affini 
ties  ;2  the  stranger  and  wanderer  were  welcomed  to  friendly  homes ;  while 
the  bard  tuned  his  harp,  when  the  generous  host  held  forth  his  hand  to  the 
honoured  guest.  Should  not  our  great  saints  then  be  received  with  all 
possible  manifestations  of  respect  while  on  their  travels  ?  More  temperate 
than  most  others,  they  could  partake  of  wine  and  metheglin  without  degene 
racy;  while,  their  sources  of  wealth,  like  the  faith  which  created  it,  seemed 
inexhaustible  and  bid  defiance  to  prodigality.  Kings,  with  their  suite,  and 
even  with  their  army,  often  sat  down  at  the  table  of  a  poor  bishop,  anchorite 
or  religious,  and  partook  of  frugal  fare,  frequently  supplied  in  a  most  Provi 
dential  manner.3 

Such  was  her  respect  for  those  men  deserving  it,  that  Brigid  paid  them 
every  mark  of  attention  and  politeness  ;  while,  her  modesty  was  so  great, 
that  she  never  presumed  to  look  fully  on  the  face  of  any  man.4  Yet,  she 
was  always  joyful,  when  distinguished  bishops  came  to  her  home.  From  a 
circumstance  hereafter  related,  it  may  be  possible,  that  St.  Brigid  was  living 


Great,   the    Clan-Colman  is  derived.     See  find    allusions  to  the  t)iAccAi5   or    "  pur- 

Tolin    D' Alton's   "  History  of  Ireland,   and  veyors."     See  Professor  Eugene  O'Curry's 

the  Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii..  p.  72.  "  .Manners    and    Customs    of    the    Ancient 

112  See   Colgan's   "Trias    Thaumaturga,"  Irish."      Edited   by   Dr.    \V.    K.    Sullivan, 

Vita  Quarta  S.  lirigida.-,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xxxvii.,  vol.  iii.     Appendix,  pp.  438,  442. 

xxxviii .,   pp.  555,  556.       Also,   Vita   Tertia  3  See  the  glowing  account  of  L.  Tachet 

S.  Brigida:,  cap.  Ixvii.,  pp.  534,  535,  ibid.  de  Barneval,   in   "  Histoire  Legendaire  de 

CHAPTER  x. — 'The  t>i<YOCAch  or  Biatagh  ITrlande,"  chap,    viii.,  p.    79.     He  adds: 

was  a  public  officer,  whose  duties   were   to  "  Quelquefois    meme    un     saint     voyageur 

supply  the  king's  household  with  provisions,  venait  au  secours  de  son  hote  surpris  au  de- 

to  furnish  necessaries  for  the   army,  and  to  pourvu,    et   les   convives,    apres   un   instant 

provide   entertainment  for   travellers.      See  d'inquietude,  voyaient  les  mets  et  la  liqueur 

Dr.    O'Brien's     "  Focaloir-Gaoidhilge-sax-  renaitre  au  fond  des  vases,  et  remonter  aux 

Bhearla,    or  an   Irish-English   Dictionary,"  bords  des  coupes.     Alors  on  benissait  Dieu, 

in  v.      Also,  "Tracts  relating  to  Ireland,"  et  le   festin  reprenait,  plus   joyeux  et  plus 

printed  for  the  Irish  Archa-ological  Society,  Chretien." 

vol.  ii.     "The  Statute  ot  Kilkenny,'  edited  4  Such  is  the  account  contained  in  her 

by  James  Hardiman,  n.  (e),  pp.  4,  5.  metrical  acts  : — 

2  In    that   ancient   Irish   tract,    known  as  "  Omnibus    ilia  viris  dignos  prabebat  ho- 

the  "Tain  Bo  Chuailgne,"  or,  "  The  Cattle  nores, 

Prey  of  Cooley,"  as  found  in   "  Tne  Book  Nee    tamen  ipsa   virum   in   faciem   con- 

of  Leinster,"  class  H.  2,   18,  T.C.D.,  we  spexerat  ullum." 


Ln 


near  the  shore  of  Leinster,s  when  the  following  recorded  occurrence  took 
place.  Holy  Bishop  Broon,  on  whose  behalf  St.  Brigid  wrought  a  wonderful 
miracle,  came  to  visit  the  illustrious  virgin.  He  brought  with  him  horses, 
chariots,  and  a  considerable  following  of  attendants.6  Approaching  the 
monastery  of  our  saint,  night  came  on  darkly  around  them,  and  they  were 
exposed  to  inclement,  wintry  weather,  in  the  midst  of  a  thick  wood.? 
Having  a  revelation  regarding  this  circumstance,  Brigid  said  to  her  virgins  : 
•'  Let  us  pray,  my  daughters,  for  holy  guests,  who  are  approaching  us,  under 
great  privations,  that  the  Lord  may  compassionate  their  labours.'1  s  Then 
Bishop  Broon  and  his  companions  had  a  vision  of  St.  Brigid's  monastery,  and 
of  St.  Brigid,  with  her  companions,  joylully  setting  out  to  meet  them.  Our 
saint  immediately  led  them  into  a  large  hall,  prepared  for  their  reception. 
Having  taken  oft  their  sandals,  she  washed  their  feet,  and  then  refreshed 
them  with  abundance  of  meat  and  drinks  Scotic  cups  were  placed  before 
the  strangers.10  The  nuns  also  took  care  of  their  vehicles,  as  it  seemed,  and 
placed  beds  for  them  to  lie  upon,  while  supplying  them  with  ail  things 
necessary  for  their  maintenance.  When  morning  dawned,  St.  Brigid  addressed 
the  nuns'1  of  her  monastery:  "  Let  us  go  forth  to  meet  Bishop  Broon  and 
his  companions,  straying  in  a  wood  during  the  past  night. ;;  Then  our  saint 
with  her  virgins  went  out  and  soon  found  their  expected  guests,  sitting  down 
in  the  forest.  The  travellers  thus  learned,  that  God  had  wrought  a  miracle 
in  their  favour,  on  St.  Brigid's  account ;  for,  they  related  what  happened  to 
them,  as  if  the  abbess  had  been  ignorant  of  it.  Afterwards,  they  gave  thanks 
to  God,  while  joyfully  proceeding  with  His  illustrious  servant  to  her  monastery. 


5  Father  John  Boland,  in  treating  about 
the  other  religious  establishments  of  St. 
Brigid,  seems  to  overlook  the  statement,  that 
she  lived  near  the  maritime  part  of  Leinster. 
See  "  Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.  Febru- 
arii.  Commentarius  Pnx-vius  ad  Vitam  S. 
Brigidiu  Virginis  Scoto;  Thaumaturge,  Kil- 
darirc  et  Duni  in  Ilibernia.  Sec.  V.  Kil- 
dariense,  et  alia  S.  Brigida?  monasteria,  32, 
33.  34,  35.  36,  pp.  105,  106. 

°  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  relates 
this  adventure,  makes  his  attendants  Regular 
Canons,  but  without  any  warrant.  See 
"  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.  Vita  cli  S.  Bri- 
gida."  Libro  Sesto,  p.  481. 

7  This  adventure  is  related  in  the  Bolland- 
ists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii. 
Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidiu.  Auctore  Anonymo, 
cap.  xiii ,  p.  130. 

*  The  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life 
afterwards  adds:  "Mira  multum,  fratres 
charissimi,  dicturus  sum  vobis, "  &c.  These 
words  seem  to  indicate,  that  the  Life  in  ques 
tion  had  been  intended  for  monastic  spiritual 
lectures.  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thauma- 
turga."  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidce,  lib.  ii., 
cap.  Iviii.,  p.  559. 

9  When  they  arrived  at  St.  Brigid's  mon 
astery,  it  is  stated  : 

"  Postquam   rite   cibo   sanctorum   membra 

refecit, 
Pra-sulis   et    pedibus    tepidas    asperserat 

undas 
Ilia   sitim   propter   post   Scotica    pocula 

ponit." 


— Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidie,  §  xv.,  pp.  584, 
5S5,  ibid.  The  Scottish  or  Irish  cups  here 
alluded  to  were  probably  "methers,"  of 
which  many  specimens  are  still  preserved. 
In  Sir  William  K.  Wilde's  "  Descriptive 
Catalogue  of  the  Antiquities  of  Stone, 
Earthen  and  Vegetable  Materials  in  the 
Museum  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,"  there 
is  an  interesting  account  of  ancient  methers 
and  drinking  vessels,  with  characteristic 
illustrations,  part  i.,  class  iii.,  pp.  214  to 
218.  Also  part  ii.,  class  iv.,  pp.  264  to 
267. 

10  Most  probably  they  were  regaled  with 
mead,    a    favourite   drink    of    the    ancient 
Irish,    as    with    the    Teutons    of    Northern 
luirope.      This   was  quaffed   from  metlicrs, 
generally  modelled  from  alder  wood,  crab- 
tree,   sometimes  from   sycamore  or  sallow. 
They   were    quadrangulirly   formed,  at   the 
top,  ahhough  usually  rounded  at   the  bot 
tom.     Those  who  used  them  drank  from 
the  angles.     Sometimes  two  and  sometimes 
four  handles   are   found   on   specimens   yet 
preserved.     See  an  interesting  article  "  On 
Methers    and   other  ancient   Drinking  Ves 
sels,"  by  Thomas  Joseph  Tenison,  J.P.,  in 
"The  Proceedings  and  Papers  of  the  Kil 
kenny  and  South-east  of  Ireland  Archaeolo 
gical  Society  for  the  year   1860,"  vol.  iii., 
part  i.     New  Series,  pp.  54  to  6l. 

11  As  usual,  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani 
makes    them    canonesses.       His    local    and 
modern  ideas  often  lead  him  astray.     See 
"  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.    Vita  di  S.  Brigida 
Iberncse."     Libro  Sesto,  p.  483. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


St.  Brigid  had  previously  gone  out  to  the  wood,  according  to  her  knowledge 
of  their  case.  There  they  supposed  themselves  enjoying  her  monastic  hospi 
talities.12  The  holy  bishop  remained  with  her  for  some  days.  Then,  with 
his  people,  Broon  returned  to  his  own  part  of  the  country.  On  bidding  him 
farewell,  St.  Brigid  bestowed  a  Chrismal^  on  the  bishop,  which  he  prized  as 
a  valuable  gift.  She  was  accustomed  then  to  give  many  rich  presents  to 
pilgrims  and  to  the  poor.  On  a  certain  day,  after  the  foregoing  occurrences, 
while  this  bishop  travelled  by  the  sea-shore,14  his  disciple,  who  bore  St. 
Brigid's  Chrismal,15  left  it  behind  him,  through  forgetfulness.16  Recollecting 
such  omission,  he  came  to  the  bishop,  and  told  what  had  occurred,  while 
his  eyes  were  suffused  with  tears.  The  holy  bishop  assured  the  monk  he 
ought  not  weep,  for  the  devil  should  have  no  power  to  deprive  him  of  a  gift 
bestowed  by  St.  Brigid.  The  disciple  had  left  that  Chrismal  by  the  shore, 
near  low  water-mark.  During  his  absence,  the  sea-waves  passed  over  it,  at 
full  tide.  The  brother,  on  his  return,  saw  the  sea  in  this  latter  condition, 
and  waited  for  its  ebb.  At  length  the  waves  receded  to  where  the  travellers 
stopped.  There  he  happily  found  the  vessel.1?  The  disciple  showed  his 
Chrismal  to  Bishop  Broon.  Then  the  latter  gave  thanks  to  God  and  to  His 
holy  servant,  Brigid.18 

On  one  occasion,  eight  bishops1^  came  from  a  church,  called  Tolach  na 
nEspuc,20  in  the  territory  of  Hi-Briun-chualann,21  on  a  visit  to  St.  Brigid.22 
She  then  dwelt  near  the  margin  of  a  lake,  thenceforward  to  be  denominated 
Loch-leamhnachta.23  The  holy  virgin  felt  rejoiced  at  the  arrival  of  such  a 


12  In  the  Sixth  Metrical  Life  of  our  saint, 
this  miraculous  occurrence  is  more  poetically 
described,  and  with  those  additional  circum 
stances  of  the  travellers  entertaining  some 
illusion,  that  the  night  passed   by  them  in 
the  woods  seemed  to  have  been  spent  with 
in  the  walls  of  St.  Brigid's  institution,  while 
her  nuns  appeared  ministering  to  all  their 
wants. 

13  See  the  Bollandists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum," 
tomusL,  Februarii.     Vita  Prima  S.  Brigi 
da;,  Virginis,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  130. 

14  It  is  difficult  to  say,  whether  this  visit 
of  Bishop  Broon  and  his  companions  was  to 
a  convent  of  St.  Brigid,  while  she  was  in 
Westmeath,  or  in  Connaught,  at  Kildare, 
or  at  her  place  of  residence,  beside  the  Irish 
Sea.     The  course  of  his  journey  by  the  sea 
shore  would  seem  favourable  to  the  latter 
identification.     However,  as  the  occurrence 
in  question  took  place,  after  his  visit  to  St. 
Brigid,  Bishop  Broon  might  have  been  tra 
versing  some  other  and  more  distant  mari 
time  part  of  Ireland. 

15  It  is  called   "Chrisma,"  which  word 
lias  various  ecclesiastical  applications.      It 
is  sometimes  used  for  a  Chrismal,  or  vessel 
in  which  the  Chrisma  or  Holy  Oil  is  kept ; 
sometimes  for  the  ciborium,  in  which   the 
Body  of  our  Lord  is  placed.     But  the  word 
has  a  variety  of  other  meanings,  which  will 
be  found  in  Du  Gauge's  "  Glossarium  Me 
dia;  et  Infinite  Latinitatis,"  tomus  ii.,  pp. 
338  to  340. 

16  The  Third  Life  of  our  saint  states,  that 
it  was  left  on  a  stone,  which  lay  by  the  sea* 
shore. 


17  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 
Santita    Prodigiosa.      Vita   di    S.    Brigida 
Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  481  to  488. 

18  See  Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida;,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Iviii., 
lix.,  lx.,  p.  559.      See  also,  Vita  Tertia  S. 
Brigidse,  cap.  Ixxxv.,  Ixxxvi.,  p.  538,  ibid. 

19  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 
St.    Brigid,    it    is    mentioned,    that    certain 
pious  nobles,  viz.,  the  seven  bishops  of  Tea- 
lach,  in  the  west  (?  east)  of  Leinster,  came 
as  guests  to  the  holy  abbess.     See  pp.  37, 
38.      Afterwards,   they  are  mentioned,   as 
belonging  to  Uibh   Bruin  Cualunn,  and  to 
Tealach  na  Nespoc,  which  was  in  that  terri 
tory.     See  pp.  41,  42. 

20  It  is  Latinized  "  Collis  Episcoporum." 

21  A  sept  living  here  bestowed  a  name  on 
this  territory,  which  comprised  the  greater 
part  of  Rathdown  barony,   in   the  present 
county  of  Dublin,  with  a  northern  portion 
of   Wicklow    county.      In    O'Clery's    Irish 
Calendar,    the    churches    of    Cill-Inghine- 
Leinin,  now  Killiney,   Tigh-Chonaill,   now 
Stagonnell,    and    Dunmore,     were    placed 
within  this  district.     See  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  n. 
(n),  p.  340. 

22  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  affirms,  that  the  bishops  found  her  in 
a  place  by  the  side  of  Gill  Dara,  on  the 
north.     See  pp.  41,  42. 

23  It  is  difficult  to  identify  this  place.     A 
little  to  the  north-west  of  Kildare,  Lough 
Minane  or  the  Friar's  Lough,  is  noted  on 
the  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for 
the  County  of  Kildare,"  Sheet  22.    By  Rev. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


company  of  venerable  guests,  who  were  probably  Chorepiscopi,2*  and  she 
went  to  the  cook,  named  Blathnata,23  to  see  if  this  latter  had  any  refresh 
ments  provided  for  their  entertainment.  Her  cook  replied,  she  had  not  a 
sufficiency  of  viands,  and  especially  nothing  in  the  shape  of  beverage  was 
ready.  Such  an  account  caused  St.  frigid  to  experience  a  momentary  con 
fusion  ;  but,  recurring  to  prayer,  an  angel  intimated  to  her,  that  her  cows 
should  be  milked.  When  this  had  been  effected,  these  cows  gave  such  a 
quantity  of  milk,  that  all  vessels  in  the  place  were  soon  filled.  It  is  even 
said,  the  milk  flowed  in  a  stream  along  the  ground  towards  a  certain  hollow, 
which  was  filled  with  this  nourishing  fluid.  In  after-times,  that  spot  received 
the  corresponding  Irish  name,  Loch-leamnachta.26  or  '•'  the  lake  of  milk." 

The  situation  of  Tolach  or  Tulloch  na  n-Espoc  in  Ui  Briun  Chualann 
identifies  it  with  the  ancient  church  of  Tullagh,  between  Loughlinstown  and 
Cabinteely.  It  gives  name  to  the  parish  of  Tully,2?  in  the  barony  of  Rath- 
down,  and  county  of  Dublin.  On  a  green  eminence,  and  embosomed 
among  venerable  elder  trees,  thickly  interlaced  with  a  few  hawthorn  and 
ash  trees,  are  the  ruins  of  its  old  church.  The  semi-circular  choir-arch,  the 
diminutive  proportions  of  this  buiiding,  and  the  rude  stone  crosses,  with 
other  memorials  there,  bespeak  its  antiquity.28  One  of  the  crosses  stands  on 
the  road  outside  the  graveyard  ;29  the  other  remains  in  an  opposite  field.30 
Various  stone  fragments  are  scattered  around  the  latter.  Owing  to  these 
circumstances,  it  has  been  inferred,  that  Tullagh  had  been  one  of  those 
sanctuaries  or  asylums,  benevolently  intended  to  protect  the  penitent  or  the 
persecuted,  at  a  time  when  violence  prevailed,  and  too  often  frustrated  the 
demands  of  justice.31  The  existing  remains  are  a  good-sized  chancel — 25 
by  1 8  feet — to  which  a  corresponding  nave  had  never  been  built.  Judging 
by  the  marks  on  its  western  wall,  the  old  nave  to  which  it  was  added 
measured  only  15  feet  in  width.32  Here  are  some  curiously  incised  rude 
stone  monuments.33  The  late  George  V.  Da  Noyer  and  Mr.  H.  Parkinson 
have  drawn  and  described  these  objects.3*  A  pictoral  illustration^  of  the 


John  F.  Shearman,  "Lough  Minane"  is  in-  and  it  bears  some  carvings  in  alto-relievo, 

terpreted  "  the  kid's  pool."  on  one  side. 

-'4  "The  early  annalists  of  Ireland  give  3I  See  John  D'Alton's  "History  of  the 

ordinarily  such  a  representation  of  the  pre-  County  of  Dublin."     The   author  supposes 

lates  whom  \vc  now  speak   of,  and  of  the  this  church  to  have  been  originally  built  by 

functions    which     these    dignitaries    admi-  the   Danes,  and  dedicated  to   their  martyr- 

nistered,  as  shows,  that  they  regarded  these  king  St.  Olave,  who  was  slain  on  the  29th 

ecclesiastics  as  really  belonging  to  the  cpis-  of  July,  A.D.  1030.      See  pp.  930,  931. 

copal  order." — Rev.  P.  J.  Carew's  "  Eccle-  3-  "  The  opes  of  all  the  windows  have 

siastical  History  of  Ireland,"  chap.  iv. ,  pp.  boon  built  up,  so  that  the  mouldings  cannot 

127,  128.  be  seen  ;  but  the  mere  fact  of  the  windows 

25  Called   also   Blath    or    Flora.      She    is  having  round  arches  internally  is  not  incon- 

honoured   with  a  festival,  at   the   290"!   of  sistent  with  the  late  date  (viz.,  perhaps  after 

January.  the  I2th  or  1 3th  century)  ascribed  above  to 

-6  In   his  additions   to   St.    TEnguss   the  the   church." — Dr.  J.   A.    Purefoy    Colics' 

Culdee's  Martyrology,  at  the  1st  of  Febru-  communication  in  the  "Journal  of  the  Royal 

ary,  Charles  Maguire  relates,  the  foregoing  Historical  and  Archaeological  Association  of 

incidents.  Ireland,"  A.D.  1870,  vol.  i.,  part  i.     Fourth 

27  It  is  shown  on  the  "  Ordnance  Survey  series,  n.  i.,  pp.  210,  211. 

Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of  Dublin,"  33  Of  these  two  illustrations  are  given  by 

Sheets  22,  23,  25,  26.  Dr.  J.  A.   Purefoy  Colles.      See  ibid.,   p. 

28  See  John  D'Alton's   "History  of  the  210. 

County  of  Dublin,"  p.  931.  ^  See  "Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish 

29  This  is  of  a  northern  order,  and  sup-  Academy,"  vol.  viii.,  p.  6l,  and  vol.  x.,  pp. 
posed  to  be  a  perforated  Odin  cross,  by  Led-  340  to  342. 

wich,  who  is  a  very  poor  authority  on  the  35  This  is  from  a  drawing  by  Bigari,  which 

subject.  was  in  possession  of  the  Right  Hon.  William 

30  This  is  of  the  Maltese  shape,  very  tall,  Conyngham.     It  represents  the  scene  par- 


14-1 


ui<  Si. 


old  church  has  been  given  by  Grose,33  with  a  letterpress  account  by  Led- 
wich.37  Some  of  the  features  represented  as  existing  in  the  last  century  have 
since  disappeared^8 

To  our  saint,  as  to  a  common  centre  of  gravitation,  a  crowd  of  poor  and 
afflicted  persons  daily  resorted,  to  seek  relief  in  their  various  necessities  ;39 


Tullagh  Old  Church,  County  Dublin. 

some  expecting  bread,  cheese,  butter,  meal  or  corn ;  others  requiring  milk 
or  some  other  kind  of  liquid  :  some  asking  for  linen,  wool  and  coverlids  ; 
as  they  severally  stood  in  need  of  these  various  articles/0  And,  as  works  of 
charity  must  be  performed  by  persons,  who  seek  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
His  justice,41  so  this  bounteous  virgin,  filled  with  the  spirit  of  Christian 
magnanimity,  could  never  bear  to  send  the  necessitous  away  unconsoled. 
Although,  she  often  laboured  under  an  insufficiency,  or  a  total  want  of 
means,  to  give  alms ;  yet,  the  Divine  riches  were  copiously  showered  upon 
her,  in  one  way  or  another.  The  Almighty  never  refuses  His  assistance, 
whenever  a  sincere  and  an  energetic  effort  of  real  charity  is  exercised,  by  any 
of  His  creatures.  This  was  fully  illustrated,  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  a 
great  number  of  paupers  came  to  our  saint,  earnestly  wishing  to  procure  a 
draught  of  beer,  which  they  asked  from  her  in  charity.  As  the  legend  re 
lates,  she  had  not  this  beverage,  at  the  time,  to  assuage  their  thirst,  and  as 
she  did  not  wish  to  refuse  these  poor  people  their  request,  Brigid  thought  of 


tially  denuded  of  trees,  with  a  fine  cross  in 
the  foreground. 

36  See  "Antiquities  of  Ireland,"  vol.    ., 
,).  15. 

37  Ibia.,  pp.  15,  1 6. 

•&  The  accompanying  original  sketch,  by 
Mr.  JohnO'C.  Robinson,  Blackrock,  county 
of  Dublin,  was  taken  in  October,  1875,  on 
the  spot.  It  was  drawn  on  the  wood,  by 
William  F.  Wakeman,  and  engraved  by 


George  A.  Hanlon,  Dublin. 

3y  See  Surius'  "  De  Probatis  Sanctorum 
Historiis,"  Februarius,  tomus  i.  Vita  S. 
Brigidre,  Virginis,  p.  808. 

40  The  attributes  and  characteristics  of  St. 
Brigid  are  expressed  in  the  sixth  Metrical 
Life  ;  where  it  is  said,  that  various  matters 
to  bestow  on  the  poor  seemed  as  it  were  to 
increase  under  her  very  look. 

41  St.  Matt,  vi.,  33. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


the  place,  where  she  might  procure  it,  and  how  it  might  be  obtained  While 
her  cogitations  ran  on  this  subject,  she  saw,  at  a  little  distance,  water  that 
had  been  prepared  for  baths.  4*  Asking  for  heavenly  assistance,  in  enabling 
her  to  satisfy  the  expectations  of  that  thirsty  flock,  she  besought  the  Saviour 
of  the  world  who  promises  every  request  to  those  who  ask  m  his  name  ,43 
that  he  would  enable  her  to  convert  this  water  into  beer  ;  so  that  her  beloved 
poor  should  not  return  more  sorrowful  than  they  came,  and  be  disappointed 
in  their  petitions  and  expectations.  For  hope,  often  the  only  solace  of 
miserable  persons,  had  sustained  them  before  their  arrival,  and  as  they  felt 
assured  their  sufferings  should  be  relieved  by  Ungid,  so  must  a  refusal  to 
assist  them  weigh  more  heavily  on  their  spirits.44  Approaching  near  that 
water,  the  Abbess  impressed  a  sign  of  the  cross  on  it,  and  invoking  the 
name  ot  Christ,  she  blessed  it.  Then,  lie,  who  had  formerly  changed 
water  into  wine,  at  the  marriage  feast  of  Cana,  m  Galilee,^  was  pleased, 
•ugh  the  merits  of  his  holy  servant,  to  change  water  into  beer,  m  this  pre- 
;ent  instance.  And,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  joy  was  brought  to  the 
hearts  of  those  who  celebrated  the  nuptials,  by  procuring  that  supplv  of 
wine,  winch  had  been  desired  ;  so  was  St.  Brigid  rejoiced,  when  she  'had 
been  enabled  to  present  the  thirsting  multitude  of  pour,  with  beer  instead  of 
water,  thus  satisfying  both  their  requests  and  their  necessities.'6  Thus  she 
seemed  never  to  tire  in  bestowing  Jarges.es  on  the  poor  and  wretched.  ' 

:e  it  happened,  there  had  been  a  want  ot  bread,  in  a  place  where  St. 

Brigid  and  her  nuns  lived.     A  certain  well-disposed  and   benevolent  man  ,47 

itmg  the  eastern  part  ot  the  Lilly's  plain,  came  to  our  abbess.      He  re- 

Bngid  to  permit  some  of  her  daughters  to  return  with  him,  that  they 

might  oring  back  measures  ot  corn.     When  the  nuns  had  been  loaded  with 

lit  and  had  set  out  on  their  journey  homewards,  the  Liffy  was  swollen 

beyond  its  banks,  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  could  not  pass  over,  neither 

boat  nor  bridge  affording  them  opportunity.     There  had  been  a  ford,  at  the 

sual  plau  ot  crossing.     This  men  and  animals  could  wade  over,  without 


«   The  author  of  our  samt  s  Fifth  Life  re- 

"^"''^ril  T'      namettuncetm°d° 
balieis    Urn    liiberniensium    natio     4uam 

Scoorun  frequenter  uti  solent.  '  Frequent 
allusions  are  made  to  tin.,  custom,  in  the 
aeu  ol  Irish  saints,  where  we  are  informed, 

e  M  ciam  T.  "M00""1"  'r<tl'Vinu''e 
ceotion  7'l  H?  H  P'q  '°r,  ^  ™' 

bau  s  were  n  ucli  u  ^  |1UoreorKr'  tlial  l"se 
Datlis  were  much  used  m  private  laniuies, 

at  a  very  early  period  ol  our  ,ocial  exigence, 

folloSou;  old'  fri'lf  C°tCh  aPPCai'  V°-  haVC 
llovvcd  our  old   Irish   practice,  m  this   in- 

stance,   as  in  many  other.,.     The  custom, 
huS>  early    prevailing,    has    long   survived 
Ranges  ;  and   even  among  the  pea- 

Practice  of  lerhllh  P"^M   ^y'  ^ 

practice  ol  teet  bathing  m  \\  arm  water,  be- 

' 


e  . 

ve  v  m  uch  to  h«lS,SUP?°^i  to,^lUnbu1te 
vciy  mucn  to  health  and  to  bodily  relresh- 


St 


called  lepers.  See  Vita  Secunda  S.  Bri. 
fii'l*,  cap.  ix.,  p.  5.9.  VitaTertia  S.  Bri 
gid*.  cap.  civ.,  p.  540.  Vita  Quarta  S  Bri 
pd*  lib'  u.,  cap.  ixxiii,  Colgan's  "Trias 
Thaumaturga.  "  Tins  and  otht-r  miraculous 
occurrence,,  such  as  restoring  sj  ,ht  to  one 
b0111  Wi«'».  *c-  are  mentioned  m  her 
V?ri°U.s  °fficeS'  See  "^onica  Generaiis 
>iu'ldi;  "  ^  de  Natal.bus,  as  also  various 
Act,  of  the  >amt 

*5  St.  I  olm  n     I  to  1  1 


. 

Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxxiv     xxxv 
£  575.   Sexta  Vita&S.  BrigL™'p   583! 

Vita  Frima  S.  Brigidae,  §  19,  p.  516. 

«  ln  lhe  yixth  £lle  thls  ^e,Pelilor  of  St> 

Bri«id  ls  called  a  »"ble,  and  it  is  ,aid, 


dedit  Pueris  sacc;os  similagine  plenos, 
'i"is  ancilias  dimisitdemque  onustas." 

this'  U  Would  aPPear'  that  the 
t0  St'  Bri-id  cullilsted  of 


t  out 


14r,  LIFE  OF  ST.  £  RIGID. 

much  difficulty,  except  in  time  of  floods.  The  nuns  then  sat  down  on  the 
river  bank,  and  invoked  St.  Brigid  to  aid  them,  at  this  juncture  Imme 
diately,  they  were  all  transported  with  their  burdens  to  the  opposite  bank, 
through  St.  Brigid's  merits  and  the  power  of  God;  but,  removed  by  what 
means,  or  in  what  manner,  remained  a  secret  to  them.  Coining  to  their 
superioress,  they  related  that  miracle  which  had  taken  place,  when  the  holy 
abbess  told  them,  to  conceal  it  from  the  world.*8  Yet,  a  knowledge  of  this 
wonderful  incident  could  not  be  suppressed,  because  others  heard  about  it, 
before  Brigid  had  issued  her  mandate.  «9 

One  day,  a  certain  bishop,  with  a  large  retinue,  visited  the  abbess.  She 
was  unprovided,  at  the  time,  with  means  necessary  to  afford  refreshment  for 
such  a  large  number  of  persons.  The  Almighty,  however,  miraculously  and 
instantaneously  supplied  her  with  food,  sufficient  for  the  refection  of  her 
guests.  In  like  manner,  on  the  same  day,  two  other  bishops  arrived,  at 
different  hours.  Those  prelates  were  unexpected  visitors  to  our  saint.  _Still 
refreshment  was  found  wondrously  provided  for  their  wants.-*0  The  saintly 
abbess  had  a  cow,  which  gave  an  incredible  quantity  of  milk._  A  certain 
avaricious  man  entreated  her  to  make  him  a  present  of  that  animal.  With 
this  request,  Brigid  is  said  to  have  complied.  But,  before  the  man  had 
driven  the  cow  to  his  lands,  she  gave  no  more  milk  than  was  customary, 
with  other  animals  of  her  class.  Afterwards,  a  generous  man  bestowed 
another  cow  for  Brigid's  use.  Through  a  special  permission  of  Providence, 
this  beast  proved  equal  to  the  former,  in  giving  a  copious  supply  of  milk.*1 

At  another  time,  a  woman  came  to  St  Brigid,  saying  :  "  U  mother,  what 
shall  I  do,  regarding  this  son  of  mine  ?  For,  he  is  almost  an  abortion,  being 
blind  from  his  birth,  and  having  a  tabulated  face.52  Hence,  his  father 
•wished  to  deprive  him  of  life."  Compassionating  the  distress  of  this  woman, 
Brigid  ordered  the  child's  face  to  be  washed  in  water  that  was  near.  Then, 
all  former  blemishes  were  removed,  the  Almighty  restoring  him,  through  St. 
Brigid's  merits.  This  boy  was  called  Cretanus  or  Crimthann,"  and  he  lived 
for  a  long  time,  after  the  removal  of  his  deformity.  s« 

The  following  incidents  are  alluded  to,  in  many  of  our  saint's  acts.  A 
certain  necessity  required  St.  Brigid's  presence,  in  one  of  her  fields,  and  in 
connection  with  the  interests  of  her  institution.  Knowing  the  boundless 
liberality  of  the  saint,  a  young  man,  addicted  to  pleasantry,  resolved  to  play 
off  a  joke  at  her  expense,  by  obtaining  under  false  pretences  one  of  her 
sheep,  that  grazed  on  the  pastures  around ;  although  rich,  and  having  no 


<°  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Life.     In  the  Third  Life,  there  is  no  men- 

Santita   Prodigiosa.       Vita  di   S.    Brigida  tion   about   the  second  cow  given   to    St. 

Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  502  to  504.  Brigid. 

«  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga. "  ^  Colgan  explains  the  expressions,  "ta- 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  l.xix.,  bulatam  iaciem,"  to  mean  a  lace,  plain  like 

p.  560.    Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida;,  cap.  xcviii.,  the  surface  of  a  table,  having  all  its  parts  of 

P-  539,tWrf.     See,  also,  Vita  Sexta  S.  Bri-  equal  prominence,  and  of  featureless  defor- 

gidaa,  sec.  lx.,  p.  594,  ibid.  mity  ;  hence,  deprived  of  those  various  or- 

50  See  the  Bollandists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum,"  gans  of  sense,  to  be  found  in  more  regularly 

tomus  i.,  Februarii.      Vita  iv.  S.  Brigidae,  formed  features, 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  x.,  p.  169,  "  jn  the  Third  Life,  he  is  called  Cretanus, 

=' See  Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  and  of  him  it  is  very  unintelligibly  said, 

Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidrc,  lib.  ii,,  cap.  Ixx.,  "  quern  afnrmant  usque  ad  mortem  dolorem 

p.   560.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidrc,  cap.  ci.,  occulorum  habuisse,  sed  turn  sanos  occulos 

p.  540,   ibid.     In  this  latter  lile,  the  mira-  semper  habebat." 

culous  supply  of  milk  is  said  to  have  occurred,  54  See,   Colgan's  "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

inconsequence  of  the  arrival  of  three  bishops  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxi., 

and  their  companions,  most  probably  those  p.  560.     Vita  Tenia  S.  Bngidse,  cap.  cii, 

guests,   already  mentioned  in  the   Fourth  and  n.  49,  pp.  540,  545,  ibid, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B  'RIGID.  T47 

real  necessity  to  appear  otherwise,  he  assumed  the  garments  and  disguise  of 
a  pauper.  S3  Appearing  to  sustain  upon  a  staff  his  limbs,  tottering  with  pre 
tended  infirmity  and  want,  he  approached  the  holy  abbess.  His  steps 
seemed  unsteady,  while  drawing  deep  sighs,  and  with  a  voice  broken  and 
resumed  only  at  intervals,  he  entreated  that  one  sheep  from  her  flock  should 
be  given  to  him.  An  appeal  of  the  kind  was  seldom  made  in  vain  to  St. 
Brigid  ;  the  looks,  gestures,  and  habit  of  the  petitioner,  inducing  an  opinion  of 
his  extreme  poverty.  His  request  was  complied  with,  and  a  sheep  was  <nven 
which  he  conveyed  to  a  suitable  hiding-place.  Encouraged  by  the  success 
of  this  sportive  experiment,  he  returned  again,  in  another  assumed  disguise 
and  habit.  Again,  he  pleaded  want  of  means  and  health;  and,  a^ain  he 
received  a  sheep  from  the  abbess.  This  he  accepted  with  expressions  of 
thanks,  and  removed  it,  to  that  place,  in  which  he  had  left  the  other  animal. 
This  trick  was  repeated,  no  less  than  seven  different  times,  and  with  like  suc- 
:ess.  But,  God  would  not  permit  His  holy  servant  to  suffer  any  loss,  owin* 
to  her  charitable  credulity,  nor  would  he  allow  the  young  man  to  derive  any 
advantage,  from  his  cunning  deception.  Those,  who  knew  that  St.  Bri<nd 
had  already  lessened  her  flock  by  seven  sheep,  were  surprised  to  find  the 
original  number  of  animals,  when  counted  in  the  evening.  So  boundless  was 
her  large-hearted  charity,  that  it  was  often  almost  undiscriminating.  Those 
sheep,  which  had  been  hidden  by  the  young  man,  were  not  found  in  their 
place  of  concealment,  when  it  was  examined  •*  so  that  the  jest,  he  practised 
upon  the  saint,  redounded  to  his  own  confusion  and  ridicule.57  His  day's 
futile  labour  and  his  falsely-assumed  characters  were  made  a  subject  for 
pleasantry,  and  directed  by  his  acquaintances  against  himself.  This  gave 
him  more  annoyance  than  the  loss  of  those  animals  he  had  surreptitiously 
acquired,  in  the  hope  of  creating  some  merriment  in  the  neighbourhood,  s* 

The  illustrious  rcligieuse  exercised  a  mysterious  sway  over  wild  beasts  of 
tne  forest,  and  birds  of  the  air.  59  The  following  circumstance  is  attributed 
to  the  all-subduing  influences  of  the  gentle  lady's  virtues,  and  it  is  com- 
mended  by  Cogitosus  to  the  attention  of  his  brethren,  for  whose  special 
edification  the  Acts  of  holy  Brigid  had  been  composed.  To  show  how  even 
irrational  animals  became  subject  to  her  will  and  words,  while  remaining  tame 
and  domesticated,  he  instances  a  wild  boar,  affrighted  by  his  pursuers  that 
fled  from  the  woods.  At  last,  that  boar  joined  a  herd  of  swine,  belonging  to 
St.  Bngid.  Finding  him  among  her  own  animals,  with  her  blessing  the  saint 
lused  him  to  remain  there  in  security,  and  he  became  perfectly  domesti- 
One  day,  Brigid  saw  some  wild  ducks  swimming  in  a.  river,  and 


ss  in  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  v  See  the  foregoing  account  in  Abbate 

bt.  Brigid-where  this  story  is  noticed-this  D.  Giacomo  Certam's  "  La  Santita  Prodi- 

deceiver  is  called  a  thief.     See  pp.  41,  42.  giosa."    Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernesc.     Libro 

s   The  matter  is  thus  briefly  related,  in  Sesto,  pp.  504  to  507. 

the  First  Metrical  Life;  according  to  the  58  Such  i.s  the  detailed  narrative,  as  fur- 

nishecl  in  the  Vita  Quinta  S.  lirigiclas,  cap. 

«  v-    <  xu'i-,  p-  577-      Colgan's  "Trias  Thauma- 

Vir  importunus,  qui  postulavit  turga." 

A  Brigida  propter  amorem  Doming  5*  This  is  alluded  to,  in  the  Bollandists' 

tomus  L 


co.T-rh         ,    -    - 

Trias  Thaumaturga."     It  is  in  Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidae,  cap.  cix.    p    540. 

like  manner  ment.oned,  in  Vita  Secunda  S.  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigfd*,  lib.  ii.  ,  cap.  lxxit~ 

d*.  cap.  v,,,.,  p.  SIQ.     Tertia  Vita  S.  p.  560.     This  circumstance  is  thus  recorded 

&  ,  KP--CU1"  P-  ,54°--  Qui1a  Vlta  S'  in  the  First  Metr«^  Li^  according  to  the 

Brigida;,  lib,  11.,  cap.  kxn.,  p.  560,  #*/.  Latin  version  ; 


148 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


occasionally  flying  through  the  air.61  These  fowl  she  collected  around  her, 
in  great  numbers  ;  for,  they  flocked  towards  her,  without  any  apparent  ap 
prehension  of  danger,  when  they  heard  this  holy  virgin's  gentle  voice  calling 
them.  For  some  time,  our  saint  caressed  them,  and  covered  them  with  her 
hand  ;  atterwards  she  allowed  their  return  to  their  feathered  companions.  2 

By  her  extraordinary  practices  of  pie.y,  Divine  pouer  was  manifested 
through  nei,  in  the  following  instance/'-1  There  was  a  certain  very  strong 
man,  named  Lugid,  who  is  said  to  have  had  the  physical  strength  oi  twelve 
ordinary  men,  while  his  appetite  for  food  was  proportionately  excessive. 
Lugid  asked  St.  Brigid  to  petition  God  in  his  behalf,  that  his  appetite  might 
be  restrained  within  reasonable  bounds,  while  yet  he  might  retain  his  bodily 
strength.  The  saint  complied  with  his  request,  and  gave  him  her  blessing.6* 
Afterwards,  this  Lugid65  was  content  with  a  quantity  oi  food  usually  necessary 
for  the  support  of  an  ordinary  man,  while  his  strength60  continued  equal  to 
the  united  bodily  prowess  of  twelve  labourers.6? 

After  St.  Brigid  came  to  her  own  city,  certain  religious  men  visited  her, 
and  preached  the  Divine  Word,  in  her  presence.  Afterwards,  the  abbess 
told  her  cellarer  or  store-keeper68  to  prepare  a  dinner  for  her  pious  guests. 
Asking  what  kind  of  a  meal  should  be  prepared,  she  was  told  by  Brigid,  to 
set  different  dishes  before  them.6?  But,  as  the  store-keeper  had  not  means 
for  complying  with  our  saint's  mandate,  she  requested  the  abbess  to  retire  to 
the  church  and  to  pray  there,  trusting  the  result  to  Divine  Providence.  As 
already  remarked,  such  had  been  the  boundless  charity  of  Brigid,  that  she 
immediately  distributed  to  those  in  need,  whatever  the  Almighty  bestowed 
on  her.  Well  knowing  the  real  state  of  affairs,  the  abbess  told  her  store- 


"  Aper  solebat  venire  in  ejus  gregem, 
Versus  Aquilonem,  ubi  est  vallis  nunc: 
Quern  Brigida  baculo  benedixit  ; 
At  cum  grege  jugiter  permansit." 

—Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidze,  sec.  xxix.,  p.  516. 
This  miracle  is  alluded  to  in  our  saint's 
offices. 

61  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  re 
lates  this  incident,  states,  that  over  these 
animals,  St.  Brigid  exercised  as  absolute  a 
dominion  as  could  our  first  parents   have 
practised  in  their  terrestrial  Paradise.     See 
"  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di   S.  Bri- 
gida   Ibernese."      Libro    Sesto,    pp.    516, 

SJ7- 

62  Sec    Colgan's    "  Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcii., 
p.  562.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidee,"  cxxvii., 
p.  541.    This  miracle  seems  the  one  alluded 
to,  in  the  First  Life,  as  related  in  the  fol 
lowing  Latin  lines  : 

"  Clamm  est  in  ejus  gestis, 

Quod  singularis  mater  fuerit  filii  Regis 

magni  (id  est,  Dei), 
Benedixit  avem  volatilem, 
Ita  ut  earn  apprebenderit  sua  manu." 

— Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sec.  pcxxiii.,  p. 
517.  Also  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidaa,  cap. 
xxii.,  p.  521. 

63  So  are  we  informed  by  Cogitosus. 

**  See  the  account  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo 


Certani's  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 
S.   Brigida   Ibernese."      Libro   Sesto,   pp. 

5J3.  5'4- 

05  Sunus,  concealing  the  name  of  Lugid, 
briefly  relates  this  miracle,  in  "  De  Probatis 
Sanctorum  Historiis,"  &c.,  tomus  i.,  Febru- 
anus.  Vita  S.  Brigidte,  Virginis,  p.  809. 

60  By  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  he  is 
called  "vn  Sansone  Ibernese." 

°?  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxiv. ,  p. 
521.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida!,  cap.  ex.,  p. 
540.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
Ixxv.,  p.  560.  In  the  First  Metrical  Life, 
this  miracle  is  thus  introduced  : 

"  Quantas  fecerit  virtutes, 

Nullus  est  qui  reterre  posset  plene. 
Praeclarum  qualiier  minuerii  edacitatem 

Lugadii 
Pugilis,  et  ejus  non  extinxit  vires." 

— Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  34,  p.  517. 

68  In  the  Fourth  Life  of  our  saint,  she  is 
called,  "Cellaria,"  and  in  the  Third 
"Coqua."  These  and  similar  incidental 
notices,  in  the  legends  of  our  saints,  serve 
to  give  us  an  idea,  regarding  various  officials 
connected  with  ancient  monasteries  and 
nunneries,  or  relating  to  their  domestic 
economy. 

6y  In  the  Third  Life,  we  read,  that  Brigid 
said  to  her,  "  Give  them  bread  and  butter, 
with  several  dishes  of  meat  and  onions," 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


149 


keeper  to  go  into  the  cellar,  and  to  mark  it  with  a  sign  of  the  cross,  to  close 
it,  and  on  her  return  to  pray,  while  herself  entered  the  church."0  About  the 
sixth  hour,?1  the  abbess  called  her  store-keeper?2  and  said,  "  The  time  for 
waiting  on  our  guests  has  arrived  ;  go  now  to  the  cellar, "  and  liberally  give 
them,  whatsoever  you  may  rind  there."  Opening  it,  the  store-keeper  found 
in  the  cellar  all  those  different  kinds  of  food,  mentioned  by  St.  Brigid.  And 
these  various  viands  lasted  during  seven  entire  days,  serving  as  refreshments, 
not  only  for  the  guests,  but  even  for  the  whole  religious  community,  as  also 
for  the  poor. 74  At  that  time,  no  persons  living  in  the  nunnery,  save  only  the 
abbess  and  her  store-keeper,  knew  whence  c:;me  those  provisions,  nor  who 
had  provided  them.75  A  knowledge  of  this  miraculous  occurrence  remained 
among  the  secrets  of  Divine  Omnipotence.?6 

It  is  said,  our  saint  was  at  a  certain  place,  where  there  were  many  rivulets, 
yet  unprovided  with  water-herbs,??  that  usually  grow  in  a  natural  state  on 
streams  supplied  by  fountains.?8  While  there,  a  band  of  holy  virgins,  be 
longing  to  the  place,  came  to  visit  and  to  ask  her  a  question.  They  say  to 
her :  "  Why,  O  mother,  do  not  the  water-herbs,??  on  which  holy  men  are 
accustomed  to  live,  grow  in  those  waters  ?''' £o  The  holy  abbess,  knowing 
that  they  desired  a  growth  of  such  herbs  there,  spent  the  following  night  in 
vigil  and  prayer.81  On  rising  the  succeeding  morning,  those  religious  found 


7J  In  the  Third  Life,  the  account  runs  a 
little  differently,  as  follows  :  Brigid  said  to 
the  cook,  "sweep  the  kitchen  pavement, 
close  the  cook-house  ;  then  go  to  thine  own 
house,  and  pray  in  it  ;  I  will  go  to  the 
church."  This  shows,  that  the  inmates  of 
St.  Brigid's  establishment  lived  in  separate 
houses  or  cells,  probably  grouped  together 
around  the  church — the  Usual  ancient  Irish 
monastic  arrangement. 

71  From  the  manner,  in  which  this  is  re 
lated,  it   would   seem,   the   sixth   hour  -was 
the  time  usually  set  apart  for  the  dinner  of 
these  guests  ;  perhaps,  too,  it  was  the  hour 
for  the  conventual  meal. 

72  So  called   in   the   Fourth   Life  of  our 
saint,   but   designated    "the  cook"   in   the 
Third  Life. 

73  In  the  Fourth  Life,  we  read  that  she 
was  directed  to  this  place,  but  in  the  Third 
Life,  she  was  ordered  to  the  cook-house  or 
kitchen. 

74  From  this  narrative  and  in  similar  ac 
counts,  we  may  well  infer,  how  large  and 
bountiful   were   the   distributions   of  food, 
made  to  the  destitute,  in  our  early  monastic 
institutes. 

75  This  miracle  is  recorded  in  Abbate  D. 
Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quiu- 
to,  pp.  417  to  419. 

76  See   Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita   Quarta   S.  BrigidiL-,  lib.    ii.,   cap.    lv., 
p.  558.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida',  cap.  Ixxxii., 
P-  537>  ibid-     Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigida;,  sect. 
xlix.,  p.  593,  ibid. 

77  Most  probably,  these  herbs  were  of  the 
species,    known   as    "  water  cresses."     The 
Fourth   Life  of  our  saint  adds,   that   many 
saints   who   were  accustomed   to  fast    with 
extreme  rigour  in  the  western  parts,  usually 


fed  on  such  herbs.     And  in  the  Sixth  Life, 
it  is  said,  that  these  holy  men, 

"  Frigida  cum  crispis  sumebant  pocula  et 
herbis. " 

78  In  the  beautiful  lines  of  John  Fraser  on 
"  '1  he  Holy  Wells,"  \\e  have  the  following 
appropriate  allusions  : — 

"  The  cottage  hearth,  the  convent  wall,  the 

battlemented  tower, 
Grew  up  around    the   crystal  springs,  as 

well  as  flag  and  flower  ; 
The  brooklime  and  the  water-cress  were 

evidence  of  health, 
Abiding  in  those  basins,  free  to  poverty 

and  wealth." 

— Edward   Hayes'    "Ballads  of  Ireland," 
vol.  i.,  p.  7. 

79  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 
Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita   di    S.    Brigida 
Tbernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  419  to  421. 
There  these  herbs  are  called  "  Cauoli  Ac- 
quatici,"  in  the  Italian  language. 

80  In  reference  to  the  different  species  of 
herbs,  mentioned  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  our 
saint,   Colgan  endeavours  to  explain  their 
nature  in  a  note.      "Per  firisia  videtur  in- 
telligere  genus  aquatic!  oleris,  quod   Hiber- 
nice  dicitur  Biorar  &   Latine  anasiurtium 
aquatieum,  quo  passim  Eremita;  istius  tem- 
poris  &   Patrice  vescebantur  :  per  Sam/>si'a, 
quid    intelligat,    ne^cio,    nisi    iorte    herbarn 
quam    Latini   vocant   sampsychum,   &.  aliis 
nominibus  vocatur  amaruciis  &.  maiorana  ; 
vel  aliam,. quam  Hiberni  vocant  Samhadh, 
Latini  vero,  accc  osaiu. ''—  N.   10,  p.  506. 

1  Seethe  Bollandists'  ''Acta  Sanctorum," 
tomus  i.,  Februarii.       Vila  Quarta  S.  liri- 
aj,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  viii.,  p.  107. 


,5o  LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


the  rivulets  filled  with  such  herbs,82  while  others  grew  for  a  considerable  dis 
tance  around,  and  where  they  had  not  hitherto  been  seen.  This  abundant 
growth  of  water-cresses83  was  granted  by  God  to  St.  Brigid's  prayers.8*  The 
fame  of  our  glorious  virgin  had  already  extended  to  very  distant  places. 
Certain  men,  wishing  to  recommend  themselves  to  her  good  offices,  came 
from  afar,  and  brought  with  them  many  presents  on  horses  and  in  waggons.83 
But,  on  that  day,  when  they  expected  to  have  arrived,  those  travellers  entered 
thick  woods,  where  night  fell  upon  them.  So  dark  were  its  shades,  that  their 
waggons  could  not  be  driven  through  the  forest,  and  they  went  astray  in  an 
unknown  place.  However,  the  holy  Brigid  had  some  prophetic  intuition 
regarding  their  distress.  Praying  to  God  for  them,  she  told  her  nuns  to 
kindle  a  fire,  and  to  warm  some  water,  that  the  feet  of  guests  she  expected 
this  night  might  be  washed.  Her  nuns  wondered  at  her  saying,  that  men 
were  journeying  through  the  darkness  on  this  particular  night.  Meanwhile, 
a  great  light  appeared  to  the  travellers.  Its  glow  illuminated  their  path,  until 
they  arrived  at  St.  Brigid's  monastery.86  The  holy  virgin  went  out  to  meet 
them,  when  all  gave  thanks  to  God.  Having  accomplished  the  object  of 
their  visit,  and  after  staying  three  days,  the  travellers  resumed  their  return 
journey,  by  that  same  road  they  had  previously  traversed.  Such  was  the 
roughness  or  intricacy  of  their  passage,  that  they  had  much  difficulty,  even 
in  the  day-time,  to  draw  their  empty  waggons  along.8?  Yet,  on  account  of 
St.  Brigid's  prayers,  Christ  himself  caused  the  rough  places  to  become 
smooth,  on  the  night  of  their  journey,  while  miraculous  light  guided  them 
on  the  way.88  This  incident  reads  very  much  like  that  previously  related 
regarding  Bishop  Broon  and  his  companions. 

Previous  to  the  residence  of  a  bishop  at  Kildare,  a  priest,  named  Nat- 
froich,8^  was  charged  with  the  performance  of  clerical  duties  for  the  religious 
inmates  of  the  nunnery.  He  became  St.  Brigid's  frequent  and  confidential 
companion.  He  was  accustomed  to  read  passages  from  some  religious  book, 
whenever  the  community  assembled  at  their  meals.  From  such  circum 
stances,  which  are  recorded  in  different  lives  of  our  saint,  it  is  quite  probable, 
that  this  priest  was  spiritual  director  of  the  abbess  and  of  her  nuns  ;  and,  we 
are  told,  that  he  remained  with  the  holy  woman,  during  his  whole  lifetime. 
Natfroich,  after  his  ordination,  became  chaplain  to  St.  Brigid  and  to  her  nuns, 


82  The  Fourth  Life  has  it,  that  the  rivulets  miracle    is    also    mentioned    in    the   Vita 
were  "supra  moclum  illis   oleribus   plcnos,  Sexta  S.    Brigidffl,  section  1.,  p.  593>   ibid, 
i.e.,  Brisia  et  cateris  oleribus  abundantes."  In   this   latter,   it   is  said,   she   cured  many 

83  The  water-cress,  which  grows   in    our  lepers  and  sick,   as    also   blind    and   lame 
brooks  and  rivulets,  is  a  well-known  aquatic  persons. 

plant,  and  it  forms  an  excellent  and  a  whole-  85  See  the  Bollandists'  "  Acta  Sanctorum," 

some  salad.     Its  flowers  are  white,  and  they  tomus   i.,  Februarii.     Vita   Quarta   S.   Bri- 

appear    in    July.       See    James    Townsend  gidne,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  viii.,  p.  168. 

Mackay's    "  Flora    Hibernica,    comprising  B6  The  Third  Life  says,  that  it  appeared 

the  flowering  Plants  Ferns  Characeoe  Musci  only  to  the  chief  man,  among  these  travellers. 

Hepaticne   Lichenses  and   Algaj   of  Ireland  In  "her   Sixth   Life,    he   is    called    "  prEesul 

arranged  according  to  the  natural  system,  venerabilis,"  or  a  "  venerable  bishop." 

with  a  synopsis  of  the  Genera,  according  to  8?  See    this    narrative    also    set    forth    in 

the  Linnrean   System."     Vasculares.     Class  Abbate  D.  Ghcomo  Certani's  "  La  Santita 

I.       Sub-class    I.      Order    6,    pp.    17,    18.  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese." 

Dublin,  1836,  8vo.  Libro'Quinto,  pp.  421  10424. 

84  The  writer  of  the  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigi-  8S  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga." 
dns,    lib.    ii.,    cap.   Ivi.,   p.    558,   adds,   that  Quarta  Vita  S.    Brigida?,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ivii., 
there  herbs  of  the  same  species  did  not  fail  pp.  158,  159.    Vita  Tevtia  S.  Brigidoe,  cap. 
to  grow  in  his  time  through  the  blessing  of  Ixxxiv.,  pp.  537,  538,  ibid. 

God  _  and  of  St.    Brigid.      See   also,   Vita  89  See  an  account  of  this  saint  at  the  I  ith 

Tertia  ^S.   Brigidoe,    cap.   Ixxxiii.,    p.    537.  of  December,   the  date  set  down   for  his 

Colgan's      "Trias    Thaumaturga."      This  feast. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  151 


for  whom  he  often  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  other  pious  books.  By 
appointment  of  St.  Patrick,  he  attended  on  her  during  her  travels,  while  he 
frequently  acted  in  the  capacity  of  charioteer.  Being  thus  engaged,  the 
following  recorded  incident  took  place.50  On  a  certain  day,  when  the  pre 
sence  of  our  saint  was  necessary,  at  a  great  congregation,  she  proceeded  to 
the  spot  in  a  chariot,  drawn  by  two  horses. c->1  We  are  told,  in  St.  Brigid's 
Third  Life,  that  the  abbess — most  probably  on  this  occasion — was  proceeding 
to  the  plain  of  the  Liffy,  and  that  another  holy  virgin  sat  with  her,  in  the 
chariot.  The  charioteer,  who  was  with  them,  had  been  desired  to  instruct 
his  travelling  companions. s2  The  better  to  make  himself  heard,  he  turned 
his  head  over  his  shoulder.  Then  said  the  abbess,  "Turn  round  that  we 
may  hear  better,  and  throw  down  the  reins."  So  her  chaplain  cast  the  reins 
over  the  front  of  the  chariot,  and  addressed  his  discourse  to  them,  with  his 
back  to  the  horses.  One  of  these  slipped  its  neck  from  the  yoke,  and  ran 
free  ;  yet,  so  engrossed  were  Bridget  and  her  companion,  in  the  sermon  of 
the  priestly  charioteer,  they  did  not  observe  that  the  horse  was  loose,  and  that 
the  carriage  was  running  all  on  one  side. ^  This  happened  at  the  edge  of  a 
very  dangerous  precipice.  The  King  of  Leinster  is  said  to  have  witnessed 
the  whole  occurrence, 94  from  a  high  hill. 55  Although  at  a  distance,  he  knew 
St.  Brigid's  chariot.1^  Finally,  breaking  his  traces,  the  animal  ran  through 
the  adjoining  fields,  in  an  affrighted  manner.  By  a  manifest  interposition  of 
Divine  Providence,  however,  the  saint  escaped  danger,  and  she  continued  her 
journey  with  one  horse  ;  another  account  informs  us,  the  other  horse  got  once 
more  into  the  traces. w  The  saint  safely  reached  the  place  for  assembly. 
Here,  Brigid  exhorted  the  people,  by  pious  admonitions  ;  while  the  rumour 
of  her  danger  and  subsequent  escape  having  reached  them,  the  minds  of  all 
present  were  filled  with  admiration  and  rejoicing.98 

Her  prescience  and  spirit  of  prophecy  were  among  the  most  remarkable 
gifts  of  the  abbess.  On  a  certain  day,  when  the  glorious  Brigid  went  from 
her  monastery,  in  the  Liffy  plains,  towards  a  place  some  little  distance  re 
moved  from  it,  in  a  easterly  direction,  a  young  student,  who  was  the  son  of 
Ethach,99  and  from  a  country  called  Mulus,100  met  her  on  the  way.  When 
he  saw  our  saint,  this  student  began  to  race,  with  all  the  giddiness  and 
vivacity  of  a  school-boy.  St.  Brigid  told  one  of  her  nuns  to  call  him  towards 
her,  but  scarcely  could  this  youth,  named  Ninnid,  be  induced  to  approach 


5°  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La  that  St.  Conlaid  had  first  paid  her  a  visit. 

Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita    di    S.    Brigida  Then   follows   an   account,    concerning   the 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quarto,  pp.  287  to  250.  saint's  journey  in  her  chariot,  accompanied 

91  See  Colon's    "  Trias   Thaumaturga."  by  some  of  her  companions.     It  is  added, 
Vita    Secunda    S.    Brigida?,    cap.  xviii.,    p.  that  the  miracle  occurred  on  the  return   of 
520.     Also  "  Vita  1'riina  S.  Brigida?,"  sec.  St.  Brigid  to  her  establishment,  after  having 
28,  p.  516,  ibid.  visited  the  house  of  a  certain  holy  virgin. 

92  See   "Vita  Tertia    S.   Brigidae,"  cap.  See  "Vita   Sexta  S.  Brigidse,"  sees,  xliii., 
Hi.,  p.  532,  ibid.  xliv.,  pp.  591,  592.    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

93  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "  Lives  of  ^  The    Abbate     D.     Giacomo     Certani 
the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  I  February,  p.  18.  writes  :   "  Ilebbe  costui  per  Padre  Eocadio, 

94  See  "  Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidtv,"  lib.  ii.,  o  vero  Eutichio,  come  alcuni  scriuono,  che 
cap.  xxi.,  pp.  552,  553.      Colgan's   "  Trias  fii  Figliuolo  d'Aido  vno  de  Figliuoli  di  Lio- 
Thaumaturga."  gario." — "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 

95  Probably  from  one  of  those  eminences,  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto,  p.  489. 
now  known  as  "the  Red  Hills  of  Kiklare."  Ico  Colgan  ob>crves  in  a  note,  that   there 

96  See    the    Bollandists'    "  Acta    Sancto-  is  an   island  in  Albanian    Scotia,  which  is 
rum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii.     Vita  Quarta  S.  called  Mule  or  Mula.    Xinnidius  spent  some 
Brigidce,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  iii.,  p.  162.  time  in  Britain.    Perhaps,  he  dwelt  there  as 

w  According  to  the  Third  Life.  a  permanent  resident,  and  may  be  properly 

98  In  the  Sixth  Metrical  Life,  it  is  said,  designated  as  "  de  partibus  Muli." 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


the  abbess.  When  he  did,  however,  she  asked  him,  whither  lie  was  running, 
in  such  haste.  He  immediately  replied  :  "  It  is  my  duty  to  enter  the  king 
dom  of  heaven,  and  towards  that  I  ran."  The  abbess  said  :  "  Would  that" I 
were  worthy  to  run  with  you  this  day  towards  God's  kingdom,  but  pray  for 
me,  brother,  that  I  may  enter  that  realm  of  bliss."  I01  The  scholar  returned  : 
"  O  saint,  do  you  in  like  manner  entreat  the  Almighty,  that  my  course  towards 
the  heavenly  kingdom  be  a  constant  one.  In  requital,  I  Avill  pray  for  you, 
with  many  other  persons,  that  you  may  attain  immortal  happiness."  Then, 
St._  Brigid  prayed  lor  him.  Ninnid  became  filled  with  the  grace  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  he  performed  penance.  This  youth  was  a  son  to  Fthach,  and  he 
was  from  the  country,  called  Mulus.  He  then  began  and  continued  to  be 
a  religious  person  to  the  very  date  of  his  death.102  ^He  is  ranked,  also,  among 
the  most  distinguished  of  our  Irish  saints.  J°3 

To  this  young  student,  St.  Brigid  then  said  :  "  On  the  day  of  my  death, 
I  shall  receive  Communion  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
from  thy  hand."  St.  Ninnidius  replied  :  "  Would  that  thou  couldst  live 
until  thou  receives!  Holy  Eucharist  from  me."  These  words  he  spoke, 
because  he  wished  at  this  time  to  become  a  pilgrim.  For  a  long  time,  he 
desired  to  be  absent,  so  that  he  might  not  soon  again  see  the  saint,  and  that 
she  might  live  to  an  extreme  old  age.  Probably,  on  some  subsequent  oc 
casion,  mutually  bestowing  a  blessing  on  each  other,  and  commending  them 
selves  respectively  to  God,  with  words  of  religious  wisdom,  they  separated, 
each  of  them  taking  a  different  destination.  From  the  day  Brigid  spoke  to 
him,  Nennid  wished  to  preserve  from  defilement  that  hand,  which  she  had 
predicted  should  minister  to  her  the  august  Viaticum  on  the  day  of  her 
death.  Hence,  we  are  told,  he  put  on  it  a  close-fitting  brass  gauntlet, 
secured  with  a  lock  and  key,  so  that  his  hand  should  not  be  able  to  touch 
his  body,  nor  be  touched  by  any  unclean  thing.  Thence,  his  cognomen  was 
derived  ;  for,  in  the  Scotic  dialect  he  was  called,  Ninnidh  lam«lan™*  which 
in  English  is  interpreted,  "  Ninnidius  of  the  clean  hand."  Afterwards,  the 
great  Father  of  our  Irish  Church  caused  him  to  be  ordained,  although  he 
was  humbly  reluctant  to  assume  the  sacredotal  oftice,I05  lest  he  might  be 
called  a  great  priest,  according  to  the  inspired  writings.105  This  Ninnidius 
sailed  over  to  the  country  of  the  Britons,  wishing  to  become  an  exile  from 
Ireland,  for  a  long  period,  as  he  knew  St.  Brigid's  prediction  must  be  ful- 
When  Ninnidius  entered  the  ship,  he  is  said  to  have  cast  the- key 

1  See  the  whole  of  this  account  in  the  aril.     Vita  S.  Nennidhii,  n.  17,  p.  115. 
Holland  ists   ''Acta   Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.,  I03  The  meaning  must  be,  that  this  humble 

lebruaru.     Vita  Quarta  S.   Brigida,   cap.  diffidence,  regarding  the  responsibilities  at- 

1X'io->  c       r  >  tached  to  his  sacred  calling,  caused  Nenni- 

^e(  Trias  Thaumaturga."  dius  to  hesitate  at  first,  until  the  persuasions 

Vita  ^uarta   b.   B  rigid  ae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixi.,  of  pious  persons  and  his  own  sense  of  a 

p.  559.    Also,  \  ita  Tertia  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Divine  call  induced  him  no  longer  to  resist 

Ixxvm.,  p.  537,  ibid.  heaven's  designs  in  his  vocation. 

In  a  note  to  this  latter  Life,  Colgan  Io6  Allusion  is  probably  made  to  Ecclesi- 

ickls,  he  was  the  same  St.  Nennius  or  Nen-  asticus,  xliv.,  15. 

nidius,  whose  Acts  he  published  at  the  iSth  '°7  The    Abbate    D.    Giacomo    Certani 

ot  January  in'  Acta  Sanctorum  Hibernian,"  with  much  circumlocution,  has  an  account 

xvin.  Januani.     See  Vita  S.  Nennidhii,  seu  of  the  foregoing  and  many  extraneous  cir- 

Nennii,  pp.  nitons.  cumstances,    in    "  La    Santita     Prodigiosa. 

Colgan  refers  us  to  notes,  which  were  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libra  Sesto 

appended  to    St.   Nennidius'  Acts,   at  the  pp.  488  to  502! 

ISth  of  January,  for  certain  observations  on  «s  This  narrative  ends  with  an  account 

The   Latin   form   of  his  that  the  miracles  and  incidents  of  Ninnid's 

"a"let  ™  Mennidius   manus   mnndce.      See  closing  years  were  to  be  found  in  an  old  Life 

Acta  banctorum  Hibernije,"  xviii.  Janu-  of  him  which  had  been  written,      bee  Vita 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID.  153 


of  his  manacled  hand  into  the  deep,  that  it  might  not  be  recovered  again  for 
any  accomplishment  of  its  purpose  IoS  But,  as  the  Scripture  declares,  no 
wisdom  or  prudence  or  counsel  can  oppose  the  Almighty's  designs.  And 
so  the  event  is  said  to  have  accorded  with  St.  Brigid's  prediction.10*  How 
ever,  it  must  be  observed,  that  some  of  the  foregoing  circumstances  are 
manifestly  the  concoction  of  legend-mongers,  and  are  inconsistent  with  a 
supposition,  that  Ninnidh  could  have  efficiently  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
priesthood  under  the  conditions,  which  have  been  related. 

As  the  Abbess  Brigid's  establishment  increased  in  importance,  the  city 
of  Kildare  grew,  likewise,  in  a  corresponding  ratio.  Revolving  in  mind  a. 
necessity  that  appeared  to  exist,  for  the  residence  of  a  bishop  there,  to  obtain 
the  object  of  her  desires,  our  saint  made  application  to  some  of  the  Irish 
prelates.  Her  petitions  appear  to  have  been  favourably  received,  for,  she 
had  the  nomination  of  Kildare's  first  bishop  ;110  a  privilege,  which  the  other 
prelates  might  have  allowed,  on  account  of  her  exalted  merits,  and  those 
services  which  she  had  rendered  to  religion  in  that  portion  of  the  province, 
where  she  presided  in  her  capacity  of  abbess.111  It  is  stated,  also,  that  the 
bishop  appointed,  in  conjunction  with  herself,  exercised  jurisdiction  over  all 
houses  of  her  order,  throughout  Ireland.  Some  difficulties  exist,  in  sup 
posing  the  Bishop  of  Kildare  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  nuns,  living  outside 
his  immediate  bishopric  ;  for,  although  named  Archbishop  of  the  Irish 
Bishops,112  yet,  it  is  also  well  known,  that  the  Irish  Primacy  had  never  been 
transferred  from  Armagh  to  Kildare.  With  her  usual  discrimination,  the 
person,  selected  by  Brigid  to  assume  the  episcopacy,  was  a  holy  man,  named 
Conleath."3  He  lived  the  life  of  a  cellule  recluse,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  Liffcy  plain.  At  what  particular  period  this  consecration  of  Conleath 
took  place,  we  have  no  means  lor  determining  ;"4  yet.  we  must  suppose,  some 
years  had  elapsed,  from  the  establishment  of  the  community  at  Kildare, 
before  its  erection  into  a  see,  and  the  consequent  appointment  of  a  bishop.11* 

That  St.  Brigid  exercised  a  certain  degree  of  jurisdiction  over  the  Bishop 
of  Kildare  who  was  her  contemporary,"6  and  that  the  abbesses,  who  were 
her  successors,  retained  such  jurisdiction  over  the  abbots  and  bishops  of  the 
see,  have  been  supposed.  This  state  of  affairs,  however,  is  so  repugnant  to 
the  spirit  of  church  discipline,  in  all  ages,  and  even  unsupported  by  any  re 
liable  authorities,  on  the  subject,  that  we  can  have  no  hesitation  in  rejecting 
such  supposition.  We  rather  prefer  coinciding  with  an  explanation  offered,11? 


Quarta  S.  Brigidiv,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixii.,  Ixiii.,  '"  See  Rev.  M.  ].  Brenan's   "  Ecclesias- 

PP-    559i   56°-      Colgan's   "Trias   Thauma-  tical  History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  iii.,  p.  51. 

turga."     Also  n.  18,  p.  566,  ilnd.  "2  "  Archiepiscopus  Hiberniensium  Epis- 

^  In  the  Fifth  Life  of  St.,  Brigid,  an  ac-  copurum."  —  Colgan's  "Trias  Thauma- 
count  given,  regarding  the  foregoing  inci-  turga."  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidai.  Pro- 
dents,  is  somewhat  different,  and  interpo-  logus,  p.  518. 

lated,   it  would  appear,    with  observations  '"3  See  his  Life  at  the  3rd  of  May. 

and  interpretations,  not  found  in  more   an-  "*  In  the    "Life  of   St.    Brigid,"  by  an 

cient  authorities.  It  is  there  said,  that  Ninnid  Irish    Priest,    it  is  stated,   this    event    took 

exiled  himself,  at  the  request  of  St.  Brigid;  place,  about  the  year  490,  and  probably  in 

that   he   went  to  Rome  to  visit   the  shrines  the  Church  of  Kildare.      See  chap,  vi.,  p. 

of  the   holy  Apostles  ;  and,   that   he    spent  74. 

four  years  as  a  pilgrim,  when  he  was  warned  "3  See  the  Italian  "  Breviarium  Gienen- 

by  an  angel  of  God  to  return  into   Ireland.  sis,"  Icct.  ii.,  where  it  is  said,  Bishop  Con- 

This  order  he  is  said  to  have  obeyed,  finding  leath   was  appointed   by  her  to  consecrate 

St.   Bngid,  at  the  point  of  death,  on  his  ar-  churches,  he  having  been   taken   from   the 

rival.      Soon  after,  giving  her  Communion,  desert. 

the  holy  priest  himself  was  gathered  to  his  IIU  This  is  an  opinion,  entertained  by  Col- 
fathers.     See  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidee,  cap.  gan. 
Ivii.,  Iviii.,  pp.  581,  582,  ibid.  "?  By  Dr.  Lanigan. 

:1°  As  Cogitosus  remarks.  Il3  By  Cogitosus. 


LII'E   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


to  account  for  this  presumed  anomaly.  It  has  been  conjectured  —  and  with 
every  appearance  of  credibility  —  that,  as  the  church  of  Kildare  had  been 
built  from  funds  supplied  by  the  monastery,  and  as  its  community,  besides 
holding  possession  of  a  proprietory  right  and  title,  appears  to  have  been  at 
the  expense  of  providing  requisites  for  religious  worship  ;  it  is  only  reason 
able  to  imagine,  that  the  church,  which  was  used  as  a  cathedral,  had  been 
under  joint  management  both  of  the  bishop  and  of  the  abbess.  And  this 
supposition  is  furthermore  confirmed,  by  what  is  related  in  St.  Brigid's  Life"8 
where  we  read,  that  she  bestowed  some  very  costly  vestments1^  which  were 
used  by  Conleath  on  the  festivals  of  our  Lord,  and  on  those  of  the  Apostles, 
while  engaged  offering  up  the  Divine  Mysteries.120  It  is  almost  certain, 
however,  that  our  saint,  on  account  of  her  singular  prerogatives  and  virtues, 
exercised  a  special  jurisdiction,  and  enjoyed  an  extraordinary  pre-eminence, 
over  all  the  religious  women  of  her  day  in  Ireland.121  Not  only  Cogitosus, 
but  several  other  writers,  will  be  found,  applying  epithets  to  St.  Brigid,  which 
indicate  her  exalted  station  and  superiority,122  at  least  in  some  correlative 
sense.  Thus,  as  the  representative  of  Irish  female  religious,  St.  Brigid  ranks 
foremost  ;I23  as  St.  Columkille  represents  the  highest  order  of  male  mona- 
chism,  and  as  St.  Patrick  crowns  the  hierarchy  ;  so  these  sacred  three  are 
united  in  popular  veneration  and  in  a  supreme  degree. 


CHAPTER     XI. 

ST.  BRIGID'S  BENIGNITY  AND  PRUDENCE— REWARDS  MIRACULOUSLY  BESTOWED  ON  THE 
POOR  AND  ON  HER  ENTERTAINERS — ST.  HINNA — MIRACULOUS  OCCURRENCES — ST. 
DARIA'S  SIGHT  PARTIALLY  RESTORED— FAITH  IN  ST.  BRIGID'S  INTERCESSION 
JUSTIFIED. 

THE  benignant  Brigid  regarded  her  religious  daughters  and  her  pupils  with 
true  affection  ;  the  servants  and  labourers,  about  her  establishment,  she  in 
dulged  as  members  of  her  own  family.1  Seldom  when  correcting  faults  did 
she  use  terms  of  reproach ;  but,  always  considering  the  most  practical  means 
for  removing  evil  to  be  the  healing  of  a  sinner's  soul,  her  action  was  deemed 
more  important  than  even  her  charitable  direction  or  advice.  She  knew 


119  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  I22  See  ibid.,  Cogitosus  or  Secunda  Vita 
Santita    Prodigiosa.      Vita    di    S.    Brigida  S.  Brigida?.    In  Prologo,  and  in  cap.  xxxvi., 
Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  p.  539.  pp.  518,  524.     The  Bishop  of  Ossory,  in  his 

120  "  Nam  vestimenta  transmarina  et  pere-  "Dissertation   on    St.  Brigid,"  has  similar 
grina  Episcopi  Conleath   decorati   luminis,  remarks,  in  the  commencement  of  his  trea- 
quibus,    solemnitatibus   Domini,   et   vigiliis  tise,  p.  I.      See  Appendix  Secunda  ad  Acta 
Apostolorum  sacra  in  altaribus  offerens  my-  S.   Brigida?,  sec.  xxxix.,  p.  608,  ibid. 
steria  utebatur,  pauperibus  largita  est."-  I23  According  to  David  Roth. 
Cogitosus  or  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigida?,  cap.  CHAPTER  xi.— '  Such  is  the  account  as 
xxix.,  p.  522.     Colgan's   "  Trias  Thauma-  furnished  by  the  metrical  panegyrist,  iu  these 
turga."  lines  : — 

121  In  the  "  Breviarium  Gienensis,"  it  is 

said,  from  all  the  provinces  of  Ireland,  that  "  Qualis    erat    pueris,    famulis,    hasc    ipsa 

a  great  multitude  flocked  to  her  monastery,  puellis 

"quod  est  caput  pene  Hiberniensium  Eccle-  Talis  amore  pio  cunctis  pukherrima  virgo 

siarum,  id  est,    Scotorum."     Again:  "  Et  Pauperibus   fuerat  et  miseris,  larga   pu- 

ipsa  puellarum  mater  extitit,  ut  amborum  pillis." 

mentis  Hiberniensis  insula  Christo  devotis- 

sime  serviret,"  lect.  i.,  iii.     See  ibid.     Ap-  Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."      Sexta 

pendix  Prima  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidce,  p.  601.  Vita  S.  Brigida?,  sec.  v,,  p.  583. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  £  RIGID.  155 


how  to  compassionate  the  weakness  of  others.2  She  sought  to  repair  im 
prudence  and  crime,  without  causing  scandal  or  exposing  the  delinquent, 
An  instance  of  such  thoughtful  interposition  occurs,  in  the  case  of  a  certain 
young  person,  bound  by  a  religious  vow.3  The  result  was  a  reward  for  that 
merciful  interference  ;  as  the  person  became  penitent.*  And,  because  all 
things  are  rendered  possible,  on  the  ground  of  unwavering  faith,5  so  was  the 
life  of  St.  Brigid  daily  illustrated  by  miracles.  Thus,  as  various  poor  and 
infirm  creatures  visited  her,  to  have  their  several  wants  supplied,  it  happened 
on  one  occasion,  that  she  afforded  relief  to  a  person,  who  required  the  useful 
condiment  of  salt,  which  was  procured  in  a  supernatural  manner.6 

The  following  two  miraculous  incidents,  attributed  to  our  saint,  are  thus 
related. 7  While  her  mind  was  elevated  to  the  contemplation  of  heavenly 
subjects,  as  was  her  frequent  habit,  the  things  of  earth  were  altogether  for 
gotten.  Such  being  the  case,  on  a  certain  occasion,  and  most  probably  while 
engaged  about  some  culinary  affairs,  a  dog  removed  a  large  piece  of  bacon. 
When  sought,  this  was  not  to  be  found,  in  its  usual  storing  place  ;  but,  after 
a  month  had  expired,  it  was  discovered,  whole  and  untouched,  in  the  kennel. 
That  dog  durst  not  eat  this  food,  belonging  to  Brigid,  and  his  natural 
appetite,  for  so  long  a  period,  seemed  restrained  by  some  wonderful  and 
inexplicable  intervention.8  In  season  and  out  of  season,  St.  Brigid's  bounty 
had  been  taxed  by  the  importunities  of  poor  persons,  and  her  charities 
seemed  exhaustless,  while  the  fame  of  her  miracles  still  caused  many  destitute 
persons  to  approach  her  every  day.  Among  these,  a  poor  person,  in  need 
of  alms,  had  been  sent  by  the  saint  to  her  servants,  who  were  engaged  in 
cooking  flesh-meat.  Our  saint  directed  that  immediate  relief  should  be 
given  to  the  applicant.  While  herself  was  present,  one  of  holy  Brigid's 
servants,  engaged  in  cooking,  thoughtlessly  threw?  a  piece  of  undressed  flesh- 
meat,  into  the  folds  of  her  garments.10  This  the  abbess  brought  to  that  poor 
person,  as  an  alms,  while  her  white  robe,11  was  found  to  preserve  its  purity, 
without  a  single  speck  or  stain.12 

2  See    "The  Life  of  St.   Brigid,"  by  an  Santita  Prodigiosa.    Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Iber- 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  ix.,  p.  H2.  nese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  514  to  516. 

3  Cases  somewhat  similar  are  recorded  in  9  Some  of  our  Saint's  Lives  merely  say, 
a  Life  of  St.   Ailbe,  at  the   I2th  of  Sep-  that  the  cook  threw  it  into  the  bosom  of  the 
tember,  and  in  a  Life  of  St.  Kieran  of  Saigir,  charitable    abbess;    but,    this   act   of   dis- 
at  the  5th  of  March.     See  Colgan's  "Trias  courtesy   towards   her,    on   the   part   of   a 
Thaumaturga."     Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigida?,  servant,  can  hardly  be  credible.    The  Latin 
n.  12,  p.  526,  and  Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  word  used,  however,  may  admit  of  another 
n.  60,  p.  545,  ibid.  meaning;  for  "in  sinu,"  may  signify    "in 

4  See  this  account,  treated  at  more  length,  a  fold."    The  Irish  line,  in  the  First  Life  of 
in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  San-  St.  Brigid  has  it  : — 

tita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di   S.  Brigida  Iber-  «  t>nocA<b  ro  cneAr  1«  «*  hucc." 

nese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  507  to  512. 

5  See  Hebrews,  xi.  In  English  :   "boiled  meat,  which  was  cast 

6  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga. "  into  her  bosom." 

Vita  Prima   S.    Brigidce,    sec.   20,   p.    516.  I0  Where  Cogitosus  says,  this  man  threw 

Vita   Secunda  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  x.,  xi.,  pp.  the  piece  of  meat  "in  albatum  ipsius  sinu- 

519,  520.    Tertia  Vita  S.  Brigida?,  cap.  cv.,  atce    vestis    receptaculum,"  allusion   seems 

cvi.,  p.    540.      This  miracle  is  given,   with  made  to  her  religious  habit.     This  garment 

additional   particulars,    in   the    Fifth   Life.  would  appear  to  have  fallen  about  the  per- 

Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  xliv.,  p.  578.  sons  of  herself  and  of  her  nuns,  in  graceful 

In  the  Sixth  Life,  a  miracle  is  recorded  of  a  folds. 

somewhat  analogous  character.      However,  "  From  the  words  of  Cogitosus,  allusion 

this  account  does  not  appear  applicable  to  is  seemingly  made  to  the  white  dress  of  St. 

the  narrative,  alluded  to  in  the  text.      See  Brigid's  order. 

Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidre,  sec.  xxiv.,  p.  586.  "  See,   Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

7  See  Cogitosus,  or  Secunda  Vita  S.  Bri-  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  xv.,  p.  520. 
gidffi,  cap.  xiv.,  p.  520,  ibid.  Vita  Prima  S.  Brigida;,  sec.  xxiii.,  xxiv,  p. 

8  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  516.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida?,  cap.  cvii., 


156  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID, 

In  those  primitive  times,  and  when  hospices  were  not  numerous  in 
country  parts,  while  St.  Brigid  and  her  nuns  were  engaged  on  missionary 
visitations,  they  were  frequently  obliged  to  accept  the  hospitalities  of  very 
humble  people. '3  It  was  on  an  occasion  of  this  sort,  while  lodging  with  a 
private  family,  a  man,  named  Icessus,  or  Eccus,  a  poet,  with  his  wife,1* 
happened  to  sleep  in  the  same  house.  The  blessed  abbess,  at  their  request, 
gave  them  her  benediction.  Afterwards,  a  renowned  son,  St.  Echenus  or 
Etchen13  was  born  to  the  religious  parents.16  During  this  visit,  likewise, 
Brigid  was  instrumental  in  having  a  stolen  silver  lunette,17  restored  to  her 
hostess,  and  in  a  miraculous  manner.18  This  had  been  taken  by  a  fugitive 
servant-maid. '9  An  injustice  of  a  still  more  objectionable  character,  sought 
to  be  practised  on  an  innocent  woman,20  caused  the  latter  to  fly  for  refuge 
towards  St.  Brigid's  sanctuary.  There  she  received  a  welcome,  and  the 
property  she  lost  was  procured  by  a  miracle.21 

The  following  miracle  was  wrought  by  St.  Brigid,  while  lodging  at  the 
house  of  a  certain  poor  and  pious  woman.22  The  abbess  had  been  engaged 
on  one  of  her  religious  missions.  When  evening  overtook  her  travelling 
over  the  extensive  plain  of  Breg,23  she  entered  the  house  of  this  poor  woman, 
to  claim  hospitality  for  that  night.  According  to  St.  Brogan's  Life  of  the 
saint,  this  happened  in  the  plain  of  Caoil.24  Holding  out  her  hands  in  token 
of  welcome,  the  hostess  joyfully  and  respectfully  received  Christ's  holy 
servant,  with  her  nuns.  She  also  gave  thanks  to  God,  for  their  happy  arrival. 
Having  only  one  calf,  it  was  immediately  killed  for  the  refreshment  of  those 
guests;  but,  having  no  wood  to  prepare  a  meal,  the  poor  woman  broke  a 
frame  or  distaff,25  which  had  been  used  for  weaving  stuffs.  With  its  material, 
she  kindled  a  fire,  and  proceeded  to  cook  some  meat,  showing  a  right  good 
will.  After  supper  was  over,  passing  the  night  in  her  accustomed  vigils,  holy 

cviii.,  p.  540.     Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  S.    Brigidre,   lib.   ii.,   cap.   Ixxvi.,   pp.  560, 

ii.,  cap.  Ixxvii ,  Ixxviii.,  p.  561.  561,  and  n.  20,  p.  566. 

13  "  En  ce  temps-la,  les  saints  et  les  saintes  I9  She  had  also  lived  with  the  family. 
s'en  allaient  par  toute  1'Irlande,  e'vange'lisant           20  A  young  man  had  given  into  her  charge 
et  prechant,  ede'fiant  les  fideles  par  leur  vertus  a  valuable  silver  vessel,  which  he  afterwards 
et   par  leur  miracles." — L.  Tachet  de   Bar-  took  away  without  her  knowledge,  thus  hop- 
neval's  "  Histoire  Legendaire  de  1'Irlande,"  ing  to  make  her  his  slave,  when  she  failed 
chap,  viii.,  p.  78.  to    restore    it.       See    Abbate    D.    Giacomo 

14  Abbate  D.  Giacomo   Certani,  who  has  Certani's  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di 
a  detailed  account  of  this  incident,  calls  him  S.    Brigicla    Ibernese."       Libra    Sesto,  pp. 
a  prince  of  Leinster  "  per  nome  Mario  Eccea  524  to  529. 

con    la    Principessa   sua    Moglie   chiamata  2I  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

Briga." — "La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  Prima  Vita  S.  Brigida;,  sec.  xxxvi.,  p.  517. 

S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libra  Sesto,  p.  517.  Secunda    Vita   S.    Brigidte,   cap.   xxvi.,  p. 

15  His  feast  occurs  on  the  nth  of  Febru-  522. 

ary.  22  This  is  related  by  Cogitosus. 

16  See  his  Life  in  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sane-  23  Breg  was  the  name  of  the  plain,  extend  - 
torum   Hibernias,"  xi.   Februarii.     Vita  S.  ing  between  Dublin  and   I'ontana  Civitas. 
Etchajnii,  pp.  304  to  306.  Joceline  writes  "  in  campo  Breagh,  specioso 

J?  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani  describes  ac  spatioso."     Vita   Sexta  S.  Patricii,  cap. 

t  as  "  vn  certo  suo  adornamento  fabricate  xxxix.,  p.  73.      See  also,  Vita   Secunda   S. 

d'argento  lauorato  da  industriosa  mano,  die  Brigidae,  n.  13,  p.    526.       Colgan's    "Trias 

1'haueua  condotto  in  forma  d'vna  Luna  non  Thaumaturga."       I'ontana    Civitas   is    now 

plena     incastonandoui     deutro     ricchissime  known   as  Drogheda.      See,  Mr.   D'Alton's 

Gemme." — •' La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  "  History  of  Drogheda,"  vol.  i.,  p.  I. 

di   S.  Brigida    Ibernese."     Libro   Sesto,  p.  24  See  also  the  Bollandists'  "  Acta  Sanc- 

522.      A  great  number  of  those  laminated  torum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii.       Vita  iv.   S. 

lunettes — but  (.hiefly  in  gold  —are  yet  to  be  Brigidne,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  x  ,  p.  170. 

seen  in  the  Royal  Irish  Academy's  Museum.  -=  ^'his  incident  serves   to   reveal  one  of 

18  See    Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga."  the  ordinary  occupations  of  ail  Irish  house- 

Tertia  Vita  S.   Brigiclre,  cap.  cxi.,  cxii.,  p.  wile,  in  early  times. 

540,  and  nu.  61,  62,  p.  545.     Quarta  Vita 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  157 

Brigid  arose  early  on  the  following  morning.  To  reward  the  cheerful  and 
hospitable  spirit  of  her  entertainer,  our  saint  caused  another  calf,  like  the  one 
that  had  been  killed,  to  appear  in  similar  shape.  The  cow  is  stated  to  have 
received  th.s  young  animal,  as  if  it  had  been  her  own  offspring.  And,  to  the 
hostess  she  presented  an  equally  valuable  weaving-frame,  in  every  respect, 
like  that  one,  which  had  been  destroyed,  for,  she  would  not  allow  this 
hospitable  woman  to  undergo  any  loss,  in  consequence  ot  her  charity.  Then, 
bidding  tare  well  to  her  hostess  and  family,  our  sa.nt  happily  and  religiously 
proceeded  on  her  journey."6 

Truly  wonderiul  are  many  of  the  legends,  which  have  been  recorded  by 
her  biographers.  Those,  which  serve  to  display  her  extraordinary  charities, 
are  not  the  least  numerous  and  strange.  Urigid  would  have  bestowed  a  large 
quantity  ot  silver  on  a  religious,  named  Hymna  or  Minna,2?  but  this  latter 
refused  to  accept  it.  Hereupon,  the  pious  abbess  threw  her  offering  into  a 
river,28  through  which  it  floated,  to  the  cell  of  St.  Hinna.2*  This  miraculous 
occurrence^0  caused  St.  llmna  to  accept  the  gift.3'  A  man  had  been  con 
demned  to  death,  by  a  certain  king's  orders.  Our  saint  interfered,  in  his 
behalf,  and  entreated  that  his  life  might  be  spared.3*  At  this  moment,  a 
quantity  of  solid  silver  fell  upon  the  bosom  of  Christ's  compassionate  servant. 
This  miraculous  gift  she  at  once  gave  the  king,  ;3  as  a  ransom  for  the  unhappy 
captive.  The  condemned  man  was  liberated  from  death,  in  consequence  of 
such  merciful  interference,  on  the  part  of  our  saint.  On  another  occasion, 
St.  Brigid  divided  her  only  cloak,  between  two  poor  persons,  so  that  each 
one  of  them  received  halt  of  it.  But  fully  to  reward  the  wishes  of  the  pious 
donor,  it  pleased  God  to  cause  each  ot  those  poor  persons  to  possess  an 
entire  cloak.^  Other  equally  extraordinary  incidents  are  related,  throughout 
our  saint's  Acts  ;  but,  writers  who  record  such  incidents  declare,  that  more 
particular  accounts  are  avoided  to  abbreviate  their  respective  biographies. 33 
A  more  poweriul  ruler  had  driven  a  prince,  who  was  a  particular  Iriend  of  St. 
Brigid,  Iroiii  his  principality.  Our  saint  undertook  to  intercede  with  the 


96  See    Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga."  3=  This    narrative    occurs    in    Abbate    D. 

Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigida:,   cap.    xxvii.,  p.  Giacomo  Certain's  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 

522.      Vita  Tertia  S.   BrigidiB,  cap.  cxiii.,  Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese. "    Libro  Sesto, 

p.  540.     Vita  Quarta  S.   Brigida,  lib.   ii.,  pp.  54710549. 

cap.  ixxix.,  p.  501.    VitaQiunu  S.  Bngidsc,  33  Most  likely,  he  was  the  king  of  Northern 

cap.  lv.,  p.  561.  Leinster,  who,  usually  in  St.  Brigid's  time, 

3?  In  the    Third  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  this  resided  in  the  Dun,  at  Naas.     In  an   Irish 

pious  virgin  is  called  Hinna,   and   in   the  Poem  of  Rev.  Geoffrey  Keating,  translated 

.Fourth  Lite,  Hymna.  into  English  verse,   by  J.   C.   Mangan,  we 

*  Ihis  is  said  to  have  been  the  Liffey  in  find  these  lines  : — 
Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certain's  "La  Santita 

Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  S.  Br.gida  Ibernese."  "The  chieftains  of  Naas   were  valourous 

Libro  Sesto,  p.  546.  lords,  but  their  valour  was  crushed  by 

_  *9  Colgan  says,  "  sed  Kinna  seu  Kinnia  Craft — 

videtur   rectius   legendum."      He   also    re-  They  fell  beneath  Envy's  butcherly  dagger, 

marks,  that  he  is  unable  to  find  any  Irish  and  Calumny's  poisoned  shaft." 
saint  called  Hymna  or  Hinna.     But  a  St. 

Kinna  or  Kiiinia  is  venerated  at  the  1st  of  —"The  Sorrows  of  Innisfail."     John  Mit- 

February,  according  to  the  Irish   Martyro-  chel's  edition  of  "  Poems,  by  James  Clarence 

legists.     Colgan  gives  her  acts,  at  the  same  Mangan."     New  York,  1859.     8vo. 

day.       See  "  Acta  Sanctorum   Hiberniae,"  34  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La 

l.  Februarii.    Vita  S.  Cinniue,  pp.  234,  235.  Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita   di    S.    Brigida 

30  It  is  said  to  have  a  Providential  gui-  Iberne-e."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  540,  541. 

"ance-  35  See   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 

3'  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidce,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxiii., 

Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidas,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxi.,  Ixxxiv.,  Ixxxv.,  p.  561.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Bri- 

Ixxxu.,  and  n.   21,   pp.    561,    566.      Vita  gidae,  cap.  cxvii.,  cxviii.,  cxix.,  p.  541,  ibid* 
lertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxvi.,  p.  541, 


158  LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


king,  on  behalf  of  the  fugitive,  so  that  this  latter  might  be  allowed  to  retain 
his  possessions  ;  yet,  the  potentate  would  not  hear  her,  but  rejected  her 
request.  By  a  judgment  from  above,  on  this  very  same  day,  the  king  fell 
out  of  his  chariot,  and  died  from  the  effects  of  his  fall.36  At  a  time,  when  a 
great  multitude  of  persons  came  to  visit  her,  and  being  unprovided  with  a 
sufficiency  of  victuals  for  their  refection,  St.  Brigid  miraculously  supplied 
them  with  food.37 

The  holy  abbess  had  promised,  at  the  hour  of  his  death,  to  visit  a  certain 
magus,  who  had  offered  his  possessions  to  God.38  Her  promise  was  re 
deemed  ;  for,  when  the  magus  lay  on  his  bed,  expecting  the  approach  of 
death,  he  said  to  his  family  :  "  Get  ready  all  things  that  are  necessary  on 
this  instant,  because  I  see  St.  Brigid,  clothed  in  white,  with  many  others,  on 
their  way  to  meet  me."  After  such  words,  he  received  Christian  baptism, 
and  being  thus  admitted  within  the  true  fold,  he  happily  departed  from  life. 
Nor  could  this  person  have  been  that  magus,  who  fostered  our  saint,  in  her 
young  days ;  since  he  appears  to  have  been  baptized,  before  his  possessions 
were  given  to  Brigid.  Still  the  matter,  as  related,  may  admit  of  a  doubt 
regarding  his  identity  with  the  present  magus. 39 

No  matter  how  far  we  may  dissent  from  the  details  of  various  legendary 
narratives,  we  must  admit  the  spell  of  a  charming  treatment  and  a  sublime 
moral  lesson  in  the  following  story,  related  almost  in  the  words  of  an  accom 
plished  writer,  alluding  to  St.  Brigid/0  One  evening,  she  sat  with  Sister 
Dara,  or  Dana,*1  a  holy  nun,  who  was  blind,42  as  the  sun  went  down  j  and 
they  talked  of  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  joys  of  Paradise.43  Now, 
their  hearts  were  so  full,  the  night  fled  away  whilst  they  spoke  together,  and 
neither  knew  that  so  many  hours  had  sped.  Then  the  sun  came  up  from  the 
Wicklow  mountains,  and  the  pure  white  light  made  the  face  of  earth  bright 
and  gay.  Bridget  sighed,  when  she  saw  how  lovely  were  earth  and  sky,  and 
while  she  knew  that  Dara's  eyes  were  closed  to  all  this  beauty.  So  she 
bowed  her  head  and  prayed.  She  extended  her  hand  and  signed  the  dark 
orbs  of  the  gentle  sister.  Then  the  darkness  passed  away  from  them,  and 
saw  the  golden  ball  in  the  east,  while  all  the  trees  and  flowers 


36  See  this  narrative  in  Abbate  D,  Giacomd  rum  Ecclesiarum,"  pp.  626  et  seq.    "  There 
Certani's  "  La  Santita  Prodigiosa.     Vita  di  was  an  Irish  virgin  ol  that  name  and  a  com- 
S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto,  pp.  549  panion  oi  St.  Brtgid  at  Kiklare,  who  is  men- 
to  553.  tioned  in  that  same  Founh  Life,  L.  2,  C. 

37  See   Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga."  89.     But  the  author  derives  the  name  Kil- 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidte,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxvi.,  dare,  not  from  her,  but  from  the  oak.     And 
Ixxxvii.,  p.  561.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidie,  in  the  Third  Life  (cap.  47)  it  is  called  Cella 
eap.  cxxi.,  cxxii.,  p.  541.  robons." — Dr.     Lamgan's     "Ecclesiastical 

38  The  following  narrative  is  given  at  more  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec. 
length  in  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  (Jertani's  "  La  x.,  n.  119,  p.  408. 

Santita   Prodigiosa.      Vita    di    S.   Brigida  42  It  is  said  she  was  so  from  her  birth. 

Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  553  to  557.  43  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 

39  See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Santita   Prodigiosa.       Vita  di   S.    Brigida 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xv.,  p.  528,  Ibernese."     Libro  Sesto,  p.  537. 

cap.  cxxiii.,  p.  541,  n.   66,  p.  545.     Vita  44  There  are  three   saints   called   Daria, 

Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxviii.,  Dara   or   Daire,    in   the    "  Martyrology  of 

p.  561.  Donegal ;"  one  a  St.  Daire,  a  virgin,  vene- 

40  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "  Lives  of  rated  at  the  8th  of  August ;  another   St. 
the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  i.,  p.  20.  Daire,  a  widow,  whose  least  occurs  at  the 

41  Dempster  has  the  extraordinary  state-  28th  of  September ;  and  a  third  St.  Daire 
ment,  that  Kiklare  was  so  called  from  the  Bochanna,  a  widow,  reverenced  at  the  2nd 
relics  of  a  Scotch  woman,   Daria,   mother  of  November.    See  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves' 
of  St.  Ursula,  and  which  had  been  brought  to  edition.      Table  of  the   Martyrology,    pp> 
Ireland.    Usshei"  has  thoroughly  refuted  this  398,  399.     Yet,  the  present  holy  Dara  may 
Statement,  See  "  De  Primordiis  Britannica-  be  distinct  from  any  of  the  foregoing  saints, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B 'RIGID.  159 

glittered  with  dew  in  the  morning  light.  She  looked  a  little  while,  and  then, 
turning  to  the  abbess,  said  :  "  Close  my  eyes  again,  dear  mother,  for  when 
the  world  is  so  visible  to  the  eyes,  God  is  seen  less  clearly  to  the  soul."  So 
Bridget  prayed  once  more,  and  Dara's  eyes  grew  dark  again. 45 

Among  many  wonderful  miracles,  wrought  through  St.  Brigid,  it  has  been 
observed,46  there  was  one  very  remarkable  and  great.47  This  also  was 
generally  known.  A  very  large  and  lofty  tree  had  L  een  cut  down,  in  the 
woods,  with  an  axe,  and  it  had  been  destined  for  a  certain  purpose  by  arti 
ficers.  It  seems  probable,  the  timber  had  been  required  for  some  building 
purposes,  in  connexion  with  the  holy  abbess's  religious  establishment ;  since, 
thither  it  was  brought,  according  to  one  account. 4s  A  number  of  strong 
men  and  oxen,  with  suitable  machines,  were  assembled  to  draw  it  towards 
the  destined  place  ;  for,  on  being  felled,  it  had  settled  in  a  position,  from 
which  it  could  not  be  detached,  without  the  utmost  difficulty,  owing  to  its 
weight  and  peculiar  shape.  But,  neither  the  men,  oxen  nor  various  machines, 
by  any  exertion  or  application,  could  draw  this  tree  from  the  spot,  where  it 
rested.  Trusting  to  the  efficacy  of  firm  faith,  whereby  mountains  are  moved,4? 
and  all  things  become  possible  to  those  believing,  according  to  Christ's  words 
in  the  Gospel,50  those  present  desisted  from  their  efforts,  and  then  invoked  the 
protection  and  assistance  of  St.  Brigid.  Afterwards,  those  labourers  moved 
the  tree  towards  that  place  intended,  without  the  least  difficulty,  and  without 
human  aid.  Such  a  wonderful  miracle  was  soon  divulged,  throughout  all  the 
provinces  of  Ireland.31  So,  she  made  man  honourable  in  his  labours,  and 
accomplished  his  labours.52  By  the  splendid  miracles  she  wrought,  and  by 
the  consummate  sanctity  of  her  life,  she  brought  countless  souls  to  the 
following  of  Christ. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE  DISCIPLES  OF  ST.  BRIGID— HER  HOLY  CONTEMPORARIES  — SHE  OBTAINS  PARDON 
FOR  A  MAN  UNJUSTLY  CONDEMNED  TO  DEATH— THE  DROVERS  AND  SWINE  ESCAPE 
FROM  WOLVES- ST.  BRIGID  PROTECTS  A  YOUNG  LADY,  WHO  WISHED  TO  BE  A 
NUN — SHE  RELIEVES  THE  ROAD-MAKERS—OTHER  REMARKABLE  OCCURRENCES. 

AMONG  the  disciples,  and  honoured  friends,  specially  patronized  by  the 
illustrious  Abbess  of  Kildare,  may  be  enumerated  her  immediate  successor 
over  the  convent  she  had  there  founded,  St.  Darlugdacha.  She  survived 
holy  Brigid  only  for  a  short  term.  St.  Lasrea  or  Laisre,  who  was  Abbess  of 
Killaisre,  St.  Hynna  or  Kinnia,  Virgin,  St.  Daria,  Virgin,  St.  Blathnata  or 
Blatha,  Latinized,  Flora,  cook  to  St.  Brigid,  St.  Conlaidh,  Bishop  of  Kildare, 
St.  Nennidius  or  Nennius,  Bishop,  St.  Natfraicus  or  Nathfraich,  her  charioteer 
and  chaplain,  are  all  numbered  among  those,  towards  whom  she  had  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  a  Protectress.1  Another  St.  Brigde,  of  Killbride,  belongs 


45  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  49  See  i.  Corinthians  xiii.,  2. 
Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidre,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  Ixxxix.,  &  See  St.  Mark  xi.,  22,  23. 

p.    561.       Vita    fertia    S.    Brigidae,    cap.  5I  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

cxxiv.,  p.  541.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxxv.,  p.  54li 

46  By  Cogitosus.  Vita  Quarta  S.  BrigidK,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xc.» 
4?  See,   the   Bollandists'    "  Acta   Sancto-  pp.  561,  562, 

rum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii.    Vita  ii.,  S.  Bri-  s-  See  Wisdom  x.  IO. 

gidw,  cap.  v.,  p.  139.  CHAPTER  xn.— '  See  Colgan's  "Trias 

48  See   Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga."  Thaumaturga."     Appendix  Quinta  ad  Act* 

Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sec,  xxxv.,  p.  517.  S.  Brigidx,  cap.  xiii.,  p.  623. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B  RIGID. 


to  this  class.  Besides  the  foregoing,  we  can  hardly  doubt,  that  the  glorious 
Patroness  of  Kildare  had  a  very  intimate  acquaintance,  with  many  of  those 
holy  men  and  women,  who  are  ranked  among  the  disciples  of  the  great  St. 
Patrick,  as  most  of  these  were  her  contemporaries.  Members  of  the  Irish 
Apostle's  own  family  circle,  who  came  from  Britain,  are  likely  to  have  been 
among  her  most  devoted  Iriends. 

Our  saint  could  hardly  have  known  St.  Auxilitis,2  Bishop  of  Killossy, 
now  Killishee,  not  far  from  Kildare,  unless,  indeed,  during  the  years  of  her 
childhood,  for  he  departed  this  life,  so  early  as  A.D.  460.3  Certain  Arch 
bishops  of  Armagh,  administering  the  affairs  of  this  church  and  see,  even 
while  the  great  Apostle  of  Ireland  lived,  such  as  St.  Binan  or  Benignus,  who 
died,  November  the  gth/  A.D.  468,5  and  St.  Jarlath  who  went  to  heaven, 
February  the  nth,6  A.D.  482,7  may  have  known  and  conversed  with  our 
saint.  Their  position  and  office,  as  ruling  over  the  Irish  Church,  and  St. 
Brigid's  active  services  to  religion,  not  in  one  particular  district,  but  in 
several  places,  far  apart  from  each  other,  warrant  the  foregoing  inference. 
Even  these  survivors  of  St.  Patrick  in  the  See  of  Armagh,  Cormac,  who  died 
on  the  i  7th  of  February,8  A.D.  497,9  Dubtach  I.,  who  departed,  A.D.  512'° 
or  513;"  and  Ailild  I.,  who  died  on  the  i3th  of  January,12  A.D.  525^  or 
526  ;J4  were  probably  accustomed  to  receive  visits  from  St.  Brigid,  or  to 
correspond  with  her,  regarding  various  obligations  and  duties  of  her  subjects, 
living  in  the  different  convents  she  had  founded. 

Several  very  eminent  persons,  living  at  her  time,  either  visited  or  corres 
ponded  with  St.  Brigid.  Hearing  about  the  fame  of  Gildas,  J5  she  sent  a  request 
to  him  by  a  messenger,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  transmit  a  token,  which 
might  often  remind  her  of  the  donor's  talents  and  sanctity.  Gildas  complied 
with  this  request,  and  sent  her  a  small  bell,  cast  by  himself.  This  memorial 
our  saint  received  with  great  pleasure.  She  attached  more  than  ordinary 
importance  to  his  gift,  owing  to  the  circumstance  of  having  received  it,  from 
a  person  so  remarkable  and  so  holy.16  It  seems  probable,  that  Gildas,  at 
this  time,  was  a  young  man,  and  residing  in  the  city  of  Armagh,  where  he  is 
said  to  have  ably  discharged  the  duties  of  a  professor.  Again,  it  may  be 
observed,  the  holy  virgin,  St.  Brigid,  must  have  been  advanced  in  years,  and 
approaching  the  close  oi  her  mortal  career,  when  she  asked  for  and  obtained 
that  much  prized  souvenir  of  friendship.  In  like  manner,  she  must  have 
been  in  the  decline  of  life,  when  St.  Brendan1?  of  Clonfert  paid  her  a  visit,  in 
order  to  obtain  instruction,  on  some  religious  questions.  In  the  legend  of 

2  See  his  Life  at  the  ayth  of  August.  "  See  his  Life  at  that  date. 

3  According  to  Ussher's  Index  Chronolo-  I3  See  Villanueva's  "  Sanii  Patricii,  Iber- 
gicus,  p.  531*     See  "Britannicarum  Eccle-  norum   Apostoli,   Synodi,  Canones,   Opus- 
biarum  Antiquitates."  cula,"  &c.     Appendix  vi.,  p.  384. 

*  See  his  Life  at  that  date.  u  See  Rev.  P.  J.  Carew's  "  Ecclesiastical 

'  5  See  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  i.,  "  Archbishops  History  of  Ireland."     Appendix,  p.  405. 

of  Armagh,"  pp.  34,  35.  '5  See  his  Acts  at  the  2yth  of  January. 

6  See  his  Lite  at  that  day.  l6  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber- 

1  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber-  nice,"  xxix.  Januarii,  p.  183. 

nue,"  xi  Februarii.     Vita  S.  lerlathei,  sive  I7  See  his  Life  at  the   loth  of  May.     In 

Hierlatii,  pp.  307,  308.  Professor  Bryan  O'Looney's  MS.  Lile  of  St. 

8  See  his  least  at  that  day.  Brigid,  an  interesting  anecdote  is  told,  that 

9  See  ibid.,  xvii.  Februarii.    Acta  S.  Cor-  St.  Brendan,  on  acknowledging  to  her  he 
tnaci,  pp.  356,  359.  never   crossed  over   seven   ridges,    without 

10  See  Villanueva's  "  Sancti  Patricii,  Iber-       thinking  of  God,  learned  in  return  from  the 
norum    Apostoli,    Synodi,    Canones,  Opus-       devoted  virgin,  that  from  the  first  moment 
cula  "  &c.     Appendix  vi.,  p.  384.  she  had  formed  an  idea  of  God,  she  never 

"'See    Harris'    Ware,    vol.    i.,    "Arch-       once  diverted  her  attention  from  the  sense 
bishops  of  Armagh,"  pp.  36,  37.  of  His  holy  presence.     See  pp.  45,  46- 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


161 


sea,  and  he  wished  to  have  St.  Brigid's  explanation,  regarding  such  a  very 
extraordinary  occurrence/  No  earthly  affection  or  occupation  ever  caused 
interruption  of  her  thinking  on  God.  This  she  confessed  to  St.  Brendan  at 

spiritual  conference,  which   took  place  between   them.      With    Braid's 

StP?rSn  t°  T?  SrCat!};  CdiflCd;  Then'  besto™S  ""*»!  benedictions, 
nau  ht  rovince  proceeded  on  his  way  towards  the  Con- 

During  his   earlier  career.  St.   Finian,"  afterwards  the  holy  Bishop  of 
Clonard,  is  said   to   have    preached    before    St.   JJrigid   and   her   religious 

lave  happened  near  the  close  of  her  career 
J  at  Kilcullen,  most  probably  was  intimate  with  our  saint 
gh  in  her  Acts,  no  notice  of  him  occurs.     However,  he  was  her  con- 
and  his  place,  not  far  removed  from  Kildare,  is  at  the  present 


Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  of  St.  Brigid,  Kilcullen,  Co.  Kildare. 
time  happily  marked  by  a  very  noble  parochial  church,  of  Gothic  design,2 


IK  See  "  Acta  Sancti  Brendani."  Edited 
by  Rt.  Rev.  Patrick  F.  Moran,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  Ossory.  Vita  S.  Brendani,  cap. 
xvii.,  pp.  16,  17. 

19  See  his  Life  at  the  I2th  of  December. 

20  This  saint  is  considered   by  Colgan   to 
have  been  identical  with  St.  Sezin,  whose 
Acts  are  given  by  Albert  le  Grande,  in  his 


Lives  of  the  Saints  of  British  Armorica. 
Those  Acts  have  been  reproduced,  with 
notes  appended,  in  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanc 
torum  Iliberniae,"  vi.  Martii.  Vita  S. 
Sezini,  pp.  477  to  479. 

-'  See  his  Life  at  the  6th  of  March. 

22  This  was  furnished  by  J.  J.  MacCarthy, 
architect,  of  Dublin. 

M 


LIFE   OF  ST.  13  RIGID. 


and  of  exquisite  proportions,  which  appropriately  takes  St.  Brigid,  the  Mary 
of  Ireland,  for  joint  patron,  united  with  the  Sacred  Heart  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.23  The  venerable  Iserninus  died  in  the  year  469.^ 

St.  Ailbe,  Bishop  of  Kmly,2s  visited  St.  Brigid,  more  than  once,  to  receive 
her  opinions  regarding  matters  of  a  spiritual  nature,  as  her  prudence  and 
judgment  gave  her  a  high  character  among  all  her  contemporaries.26 
Fiech,  Bishop  of  Sletty,  most  probably  held  interviews  with  the  holy  Abbess 
of  Kildare,  and  he  is  reputed  to  have  composed  a  hymn  in  her  praise.  _  He 
seems  to  have  outlived  her  for  some  years.  St.  Kieran,27  the  Patron  Bishop 
of  Ossory,  lived  not  far  from  Kildare,  and  most  probably  he  had  a  personal 
knowledge  of  St.  Brigid  ;  for,  he  is  thought  to  have  survived  her,  and  to 
have  lived,  until  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century.28  St.  Tighernach,  Bishop 
of  Clogher,29  was  the  god-son  of  St.  Brigid,  while  she  resided  at  Kildare,  and 
the  infant  was  baptized  by  St.  Conlcth.s0  The  foregoing  would  not  nearly 
exhaust  a  list  of  her  pious  and  distinguished  familiars,  while  the  enumeration 
and  comparison  of  other  names,  with  periods  and  places,  might  probably 
add  considerably  to  the  completeness  of  her  large  social  circle. 

The  saddest  memorials  of  the  world  and  of  its  fleeting  pleasures  are  the 
parted  friends,  who  drop  away  from  us  to  the  grave,  and  who  precede  us 
thither,  while  we  travel  to  the  same  goal.  It  is  not  well  known,  as  we  have 
already  stated,  how  many  of  the  ancient  and  patriarchal  missionaries  in 
Ireland  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  confidence  of  St.  Brigid,  besides  those 
specially  mentioned  in  her  Acts.  Her  early  patron  Mel,  Bishop  of  ArdaglV1 
departed  to  bliss  about  the  year  487. i2  Cianan,  Bishop  of  Duleek^followed 
in  or  about  the  year  488.34  Bishop  Maccaille,3s  who  gave  the  veil  to  our 
holy  abbess,  died  A.D.  489.36  Bishop  Melchu  or  Maolchus?  most  probably 
departed  this  life,  before  the  close  of  the  fifth  century. 38  The  illustrious 

•-•;  This  beautiful  church  has  been  erected  -3  His  Life  occurs  at  the   I2th  of   Sep- 

bv   the    zealous    and    pious    pastor,    Rev.  tember. 

Matthew    P     Lan-an,    P.P.    of    Kilcullcn.  '  St.  Ailbe  is  said  to  have  died  A.D.  541. 
The  first  stone  was  laid  by  His  Eminence  See  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves   "  Martyrology 
Paul  Cullen,  Cardinal  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  of  Donegal, "  pp.  246,  247 
on  the  ?th  of  August,  1869  ;  while,  the  de-  ^  See  his  Acts  at  the  5th  of  March 
dication  ceremony,  performed  by  the  same  ?s  See  Dr.  Lanigan  s  "  Ecclesiastical  Ins- 
venerated  Prince  of  the  Church,  took  place  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  11.,  chap,  x.,   sec.   2, 
on  the  8th  of  September,  1872.     The  build-  and  n.  31,  pp.  8,  9.            ,,..,-, 
in"  material  used  on  the  exterior  is   Tulla-  **  See  his  Life  at  the  4th  of  April.     The 
more  limestone,  of  the  best  description.   The  close  of  his   life   is   set  down  at  A.D.  548. 
interior   is    most    elegantly    furnished    with  See  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves       Martyrology 
marble  altars,  and  with  details  of  architec-  of  Donegal,"  pp.  94,  95. 
ture  or  decorations,  in  a  suitable  style.    The  ^  See  his  Life  at  the  3rd  of  May. 
church,  towards  the  close  of  1875,  was  per-  3«  See  his  Life  at  the  bth  of  I-  ebruary. 
fectly  completed,  both  externally  and  in-  -  See  Dr.  O  Donovan  s      Annals  of  the 
ternally,   with   the   exception  of  the   grand  Four  Masters,  '  vol.  i.,  pp.  152,  153. 
tower  and  spire,  to  be  joined  to  the  nave,  -  See  his  Life  at  the  24th  of  November. 
by    a    cloistral    entrance.      The    detached  i4  Sec  ibid. 

building    will     represent     the     presbytery,  *>  See  his  Life  at  the  25th  of  April 

when  completed,  but,  it  has  yet  to  be  built ;  *  See  Dr.  O'Conor  s  '<  Rerum  Hibern  - 

however  under  direction  of  the  energetic  and  carum  Scnptores,    tomus  iv.      Annales Ul- 

amiable  pastor,  we  believe,  this  portion   of  tonienses,  pp.  7,  8.      By  the  compiler,  he  is 

the  work  will   not   be  long  delayed.     The  incorrectly  styled,  "  Epi  Manncnsis. 

present  en-raving,  by  Mrs.  Millard,  is  taken  37  Although  some  persons  rank  Saints  Ere, 

from  a  carefully-executed  lithograph  of  the  Mel  and  Melchuo   among  St.  Brigid's  dis- 

intended    and    complete    architectural    de-  ciples,  Colgan  thinks,  they  ought  rather  be 

i(Tn  accounted  her  directors.    See      Inas  inau- 

Vsee  Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesi-  maturga."      Appendix  Quinta  ad  Acta   S. 

arum  Anticruitates."     Index  Chronologicus,  Brigida:    cap. xni.,  p.  623 

3»  See  his  Life  at  the  6th  oi  February. 


p.  522. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


'63 


Apostle  of  Ireland,  St.  Patrick,?*  was  called  away  to  Heaven,  it  is  said,  about 
A.D.  493.4°  Mochaoi,*1  Abbot  of  Mahee  Island,  died  A.D.  496.  St  Cormac  <2 
Bishop  of  Armagh,  and  called,  likewise,  of  Chrioch-in-Ernaidhe,  departed 
this  hfe  the  same  year.43  St.  Ibar"  Or  Iver  died  in  the  commencement  of 
the  sixth  century.45  Cerban,  a  bishop  of  Feart-Cearbain,  at  Tara,  died  about 
the  same  date/6  St.  I5ri-id's  friend  the  holy  Bishop  Broon,  of  Cuil-Irra,  in 
onnaught,  died  the  8th  of  June,-'?  A.D.  511.43  In  the  njnctjcth  ycar  of  his 
age,  on  the  2nd  of  November,  A.D.  512,  or  51349  died  St.  Ere,  Bishop  of 
.ilcach,  and  of  Fearta-fear-Feig,s°  but  better  known  as  the  Bishop  of  Shine, 
and  a  particular  friend  of  St.  Brigid.  This  same  year,  Dubhtach,  of  Druim 
DearblV1  and  Bishop  of  Armagh,  departed  this  life.  St.  Mac  Nissi,  whose 
least  is  kept  on  the  31-1!  of  September,  died  A.D.  5I4.52  St.  Darerca,  or 
Moninney3  of  Rilleavy.  died  the  6th  of  July,  A.D.  517.34 

Some  unreliable  accounts  have  it, 55  that' the  first  Bishop  of  Kildare  was 
Lonius.  A  certain,  or  rather  an  uncertain,  I  vorus,  is  stated  to  have  succeeded 
him.  _  But.  nothing  trustworthy  can  be  found,  regarding  the  dates  for  their 
appointment,  or  those  terms,  during  which  they  held  office.-6  Indeed,  we 
must  more  safely  hold,  that  St.  Conleth  was  the  first  prelate,  called  upon  to 
rule  this  ancient  see.:-  He  had  lived  a  holy  and  anchoretical  life  at  Old 
Connell,  where  he  edilied  all  who  noticed  his  habits  in  this  place,  chosen  for 


See  his  Life  at  the  ijth  of -March. 

4  Sec  Dr.  (/Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  .Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  154  to  159. 

41  See  liis  Life  at  the  2_}nl  of  June. 

4J  See  hU  l.ile  at  the  ijth  of  February. 

4;  See  ibid.,  pp.  loo.  101.  See,  also,  Dr. 
O'Conor's  "  kerum  1 1  iberniearuin  Scrip- 
tore.-,  '  tonuis  iv.  Annales  I  ltunicn>c^,  p. 

9- 

44  See  his  Lite  at  the  231-.!  of  April.  He 
was  a  dUciple  of  St.  1'atriek.  Sec  I  Jr. 
Tudd's  "St.  1'atrick,  ApovJe  of  Ireland.'' 
Introduction,  pp.  215,  210. 

4-  Tlu>  "Annals  of  Lister"  have  his  death 
at  A.  n.  499,  500  or  503.  Sec  Dr.  O'Conor's 
''  Rcruni  Hibernicaruin  Scriptores,"  tonuis 
iv.,  pp.  9,  n.  The  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters"  have  A.D.  500  (See  ibid.,  tonuis 
iii.,  p.  137)  ;  while  those  of  Clonmacnoise 
enter  it,  at  A.I).  504.  In  William  .M.  ilen- 
nessy's  "  Chronicum  Scotorum,"  the  dale 
is  A.D.  500.  See  pp.  34,  35. 

40  The  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters" 
enter  his  demise  at  A.D.  499;  while,  the 
"Annals  of  Lister"  have  it  at  A.D.  503. 
Those  of  Tighernach  state  A.D.  504.  See 
Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Kerum  Hibernicaruin 
Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Tigernachi  Annales, 
p.  127.  Also,  tomus  iv.  Annales  Llto- 
nienses,  pp.  10,  u.  The  "  Annals  of  Clon 
macnoise"  place  it,  also,  at  the  latter  year. 

47  See  his  festival  at  that  date. 

48  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's   "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  166,  167. 

49  See  Abbe  Ma-Geoghegan's  "Ilistoirc 
de  1'lrlande,"  tome  i.,  panic  ii.,  chap,   ii., 
p.  286. 

50  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  166  to  168. 

51  Dr.  O'Donovan  supposes  this  to  be  the 


place  called  Derver,  county  of  Loulh. 

See  Dr.  Reeves'  "  Fcclesiastical  Anti- 
fiuities  of  Down,  Connor  and  Dromore." 
Appendix  T.,  p.  239. 

5iSt.  Moninnia,  with  her  disciples, 
Saints  Darlassara,  Achea,  lirecnata,  Dim- 
nata,  and  others,  are  ranked  among  St. 
Brigid's  disciples,  by  some  writers.  Lint 
Colgan  thinks,  whatever  may  be  said  of  the 
rot,  that  St.  Moninna  must  be  considered, 
rather  as  the  impress  of  our  saint.  See 
tile  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  33,  38  ; 
St.  LI  tan's  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  cap.  18,  44, 
51,  78,  116,  124,  132;  Animosus,  lib.  i., 
cap.  39,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  19  ;  the  Martyrology  of 
Donegal,  and  of  Marianus  Gorman,  at  the 
1st  of  February,  291)1  of  January,  and  2ml 
of  December.  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga.'' 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 
xiii.,  p.  623. 

54  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  168,  169.  The 
"  Annals  of  Tigernach,"  however,  have  A.D. 
513.  Sec  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Iliber- 
nicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  129. 

'•''-'  An  ancient  register  has  been  cited  for 
this  statement,  and  for  succeeding  items 
furnished  by  Richard  Stanihurst,  and  by 
Raphael  Ftolinshed.  See  Holinshed's 
"  Chronicles  of  England,  Scotland  and 
Ireland,"  vol.  vi.  "A  treatise  containing 
a  plaine  and  perfect  Description  of  Ireland, 
with  an  Introduction  to  the  better  Vnder- 
standing  of  the  Histories  apperteining  to 
that  Hand  :"  compiled  by  liichard  Stani 
hurst.  The  first  chapter,  p.  45. 

s'J  See  Sir  James  Ware,  "  De  Prasulibus 
Lagenia;,"  p.  42. 

S?  See  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  i.,  "  Bishops  fo 
Kildare,"  pp.  380,  381. 


1 64  LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


his  retreat.  Yet,  his  missionary  duties  occasionally  called  him  to  mingle 
with  the  world.  The  holy  Conleth  or  Conlaedh,  Bishop  of  Kildare,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  fill  that  office,  at  the  instance  of  St.  Brigid,  departed 
this  life  on  the  3rd  of  May,58  A.D.  Sig.59  His  fate  must  have  proved 
peculiarly  distressing  to  the  sensitive  soul  of  the  illustrious  abbess  ;  for, 
after  he  had  directed  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  his  see  and  her  own  religious 
institute  for  several  years,  with  great  judgment  and  piety,  probably  during 
one  of  his  episcopal  journeys,  he  was  torn  asunder  by  ferocious  wolves. 
Yet,  his  remains  were  in  part  recovered,  and  afterwards  placed  in  a  rich 
shrine.60  It  seems  likely,  that  veneration,  entertained  for  him  by  the  tender 
virgin,  induced  her  to  have  that  reliquary  prepared,  in  course  of  the  very 
few  years  she  survived.  Those  friends,  parted  on  earth,  were  yet  destined 
soon  to  meet,  and  to  enjoy  the  eternal  rewards  of  Heaven.  St.  Buite  Mac 
Bronaigh  of  Monasterboice  died  on  the  yth  of  December,61  A.D.  52 1.62  St. 
Beoadh,  Bishop  of  Ardcarne,  departed  this  life  on  the  8th  of  Marches  A.D. 
523. 64  St.  Brigid  may  have  known  most — if  not  all — the  foregoing  saintly 
persons,  who  were  her  contemporaries,  and  who,  it  seems  likely,  departed  to 
a  better  world,  before  she  was  called  to  her  happy  home  beyond  the  grave. 

Among  those  many  miracles,  wrought  by  St.  Brigid,  this  following  account 
is  deemed65  not  unworthy  of  being  recorded.  A  certain  simple  rustic66  saw 
a  fox,  belonging  to  a  king.67  This  animal  was  straying  one  day,  near  the 
royal  residence. cs  The  countryman  supposed  it,  at  first,  to  have  been  a  wild 
denizen  of  the  woods  ;  whereas,  in  reality,  it  had  been  domesticated  and 
trained  to  a  variety  of  tricks,  in  order  to  amuse  at  his  castle  the  king,  with 
his  chiefs  and  attendants.  Ignorant  about  its  being  a  tame  creature,  the 
rustic  killed  it,6?  in  the  presence  of  many  witnesses.  Immediately  appre 
hended  and  brought  into  the  king's  presence,  a  serious  charge  was  preferred 
against  him.  The  king  felt  very  indignant,  on  learning  what  had  occurred. 
He  declared,  in  a  passion,  that  man  must  be  put  to  death,  while  his  wife 
and  children  should  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  bondage,  and,  moreover,  that 
his  small  property  should  be  forfeited.  The  pious  and  venerable  Brigid 
heard  about  this  transaction.  She  felt  greatly  grieved  for  the  condition  of  that 
unfortunate  man,  thus  unjustly  condemned  to  death  ;  but,  her  active  charity 
and  natural  benevolence  of  disposition  urged  her  to  make  an  appeal  to  the 
monarch  for  mercy.  Ordering  her  chariot  to  be  yoked,  and  offering  prayers 
to  God,  she  journeyed  over  the  adjoining  plain,  on  her  way  to  the  king's 
castle.?0  Her  importunate  and  fervent  prayers  were  heard  by  the  Almighty, 

:3  Sec  his  Life,  given  at  that  date.  St.  Brigid.  this  rustic  is  called    a   clown  of 

59  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  ihe  Brigid's    people,    and    he    is    said    to   have 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  170,  171.  been  engaged  cutting  firewood.      See  pp. 

60  This  has  been  very  particularly  described  39,  40. 

by  Cogitosus.     See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thau-  6?  In  the  Fifth  Life  of  our  saint,  he  is 

maturga."     Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigid  ra,  cap.  called  the  King  of  Leinster. 

xxxv.,  p.  523.  6S  It  is  somewhat  amusing  to  read  all  the 

61  See  his  Life  at  this  date.  .  imaginative     circumstances,     with     which 

62  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Abbate  D.    Giacomo  Certani  contrives   to 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i. ,  pp.  170,  171.  invest  the  relation  of  this  incident,  which  he 

63  See  notices  of  him  at  this  date.  found  less  complexly  inserted  in  his  original 

64  See  Colgan's  "  Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber-  Latin  authorities.     See  "La  Santita  Prodi- 
nise,"  viii.    Martii.       Vita   S.    Beoadi   sive  giosa.    Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro 
Beati,  pp.  562,  563.     In  the   "  Annals  of  Quarto,  pp.  287  to  295. 

Boyle,"   the   death   of    the   two   foregoing  69  See  the  account  of  this  transaction  in 

saints  is  placed  so  early  as  A.D.  499.     See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of  the  Saints," 

John  D'Alton's   "History  of  Ireland,  and  vol.  ii.,  February  1st,  pp.    19,  20.     There, 

Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  75.  however,  the  animal  in  question  is  said  to 

65  By  Cogitosus.  have  been  a  tamed  wolf. 

66  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of  ?°  From  the  description  given,  it  is  pro- 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


165 


who  directed  one  of  the  wild  foxes  in  the  wood  to  approach  her  chariot,  at 
a  swift  pace.?1  This  animal  immediately  entered  the  vehicle,  and  quietly 
lay  down  there,  nestling  in  the  folds  of  our  saint's  garments.?2  When  the 
pious  woman  arrived  at  the  king's  palace,  she  earnestly  entreated,  the  captive 
might  be  liberated  from  his  chains,  as  he  was  not  morally  accountable  for 
that  act  committed.  But,  the  king  refused  his  pardon,  and  declared,  more 
over,  that  the  criminal  should  not  be  liberated,  unless  a  fox,  equal  in  cunning 
and  performances  to  that  one  he  had  lost,  were  restored  to  him.  Then,  our 
saint  set  before  the  king  and  his  courtiers  the  fox,  which  had  accompanied 
her  in  the  chariot,  and  which  appeared  to  rival  the  former  one  in  domesticity, 
tricks,  and  devices.  Seeing  this,  the  king  was  greatly  pleased,  and  he  imme 
diately  ordered  the  captive's  restoration  to  liberty,  while  the  chiefs  and  multi 
tude  present  could  not  but  applaud  what  they  had  witnessed.  Yet,  soon  after 
the  poor  man's  liberation  and  pardon,  when  St.  Brigid  returned  to  her  home, 
that  presented  fox,  astutely  mingling  with  the  multitude,  contrived  to  escape 
once  more  to  his  den,  in  the  woods,  notwithstanding  the  pursuit  of  horsemen 
and  of  dogs,  over  the  open  country,  through  which  he  iled.?^  All  the  people, 
living  in  that  part  of  the  province,  admired  what  had  occurred,  while  greatly 
venerating  Brigid's  sanctity  and  miraculous  gifts.  Her  fame  was  daily  on 
the  increase,  and  she  was  regarded  as  the  special  favourite  of  Heaven.?-* 

At  one  time,  a  curtain  rich  man,  living  in  a  distant  province,  came  to  our 
saint.  Among  other  gifts,  he  offered  her  a  present  of  some  fat  swine.75  This 
man  requested,  also,  that  some  of  Brigid's  servants  might  be  sent  back  with 
him,  to  drive  those  animals  from  his  village,  which  lay  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  her  church.?0  It  was  situated,  according  to  one  account,  in 
the  plain  of  l-'cmhiiv7  in  the  Xandesii  territory,"3  and  in  the  province  of 


bable,  this  monarch  resided  at  Nans — some 
tun  miles  from  KiMare.  It  is  sometimes 
called  Xas-Laighean.  See  li  Miscellany  of 
the  Celtic  Society.'1  Ldited  by  John 
O'Donovan,  LL. J).  Appendix,  n.  (b),  p. 


'  Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigida?,  cap.  xxi.,  p.  521. 

?-'  The  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould,  who  relates 
this  occurrence,  states,  "'  there  came  a  wolf 
over  the  bog  racing  towards  her,  and  it 
leaped  into  the  chariot,  and  allowed  her  to 
caress  it."  "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii., 
February  1st,  p.  20. 

7i  In  the  First  Life,  this  incident  is  related 
thus,  in  the  Latin  version  : — 

"  Tradidit  vulpem  sylvestrem 
Cuidam  rustico  egenti  ; 
(,)ui  ab  sylvam  postea  evasit 
Quamvis  cum  persequebantur  turma1." 

— Vita  Prima  S.  Brigido.%  sec.  xxxi.,  pp. 
516,  517.  See,  also,  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigido;, 
cap.  cxxviii.,  p.  541.  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigida1, 
lib.  ii.,  cap.  xciii.,  p.  562. 

74  This  account  is   also   contained   in   our 
saint's  Fifth  Life,  and   in   the    usual  diffuse 
style,  with  adjunct  circumstances,  not  found 
in  her  other  Lives.    Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidce, 
cap.  xxxix. ,  pp.  576,  577. 

75  See  Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita   Secunda   S.  Brigidrc,    cap.   xx.,   pp. 


520,  521. 

7"  In  the  Third  Life  of  our  saint,  published 
by  Co!i;an,  we  read,  "  spatio  itineris,  14 
dierum  ;"  but,  in  a  Carthusian  MS.  of 
Cologne,  we  find,  ':  trium  vel  quatuor  die- 
rum."  The  latter  reading  is  more  in  accor 
dance  with  all  other  authorities,  and  with 
the  probable  facts. 

~~'  Otherwise  called  Magh-Feimhin,  now 
the  barony  of  IlTa  and  Offa  Last,  in  the 
south-east  of  Tipperary  County.  It  was 
the  seat  of  the  O'Donoghues,  known  as  the 
Loghanacht  of  Cashel  ;  but,  soon  after  the 
Lnglish  invasion,  these  were  driven  from 
that  territory,  when  they  settled  in  Logha 
nacht  Ui  Donnchadha,  now  Magimihy 
barony,  in  the  county  of  Kerry.  See  "The 
Topographical  Poems  of  John  O'Dubhagain 
and  Giolla  na  Naomh  OTIuidhrin."  Edited 
by  [ohn  O'Donovan,  LL.I).,  n.  523,  p. 
l»i. 

~:i  The  Deise  or  Nan-desi,  descended  from 
Fiaclia  Luighdhe,  the  elder  brother  to  Conn 
of  the  Hundred  Battles.  Having  been  ex 
pelled  from  Meath  by  Cormac  Mac  Airt, 
they  possessed  that  part  of  Minister,  extend 
ing  from  the  River  Suir  to  the  sea,  and  from 
Lismore  to  Credanhead.  They  occupied  the 
eastern  extremity  of  the  present  Waterford 
county.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Leabhar 
na  g-Ceart,  or,  Book  of  Rights,"  n.  (k),  pp. 
49>  5°- 


i66 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Momonia.  The  place  is  called  Magh  Fea,?9  by  St.  Brogan  Cloen.So  Our 
saint  allowed  her  drovers  to  proceed  with  the  man,  and  after  a  day's  journey, 
they  all  came  to  a  mountain  district,  called  Grabor.81  Here,  the  man  found 
his  swine  straying,  and  at  once  he  knew  them  to  have  been  driven  away  by 
wolves,82  from  his  own  far  distant  lands.  But,  when  the  servants  of  St. 
Brigid  went  thither,  by  some  wonderful  instinct,  and  as  it  were,  through  a 
reverence  for  the  holy  woman,  the  wolves  departed,  leaving  those  swine  un 
harmed.  The  drovers,  receiving  their  charge,  conducted  them  safely  through 
vast  woods  and  extensive  plains,  to  the  farm  of  their  mistress.  Here  they 
arrived,  it  is  stated,  on  that  day  succeeding  their  departure,  and  the  herdsmen 
related  all  those  wonderful  facts  which  had  occurred  during  their  absence.83 

St.  Brigid's  great  example  drew  other  pious  ladies  to  a  cloistered  life.  The 
daughter  of  a  certain  prince  had  devoted  herself  to  God,  by  a  vow  of  chastity. 
But  her  father  desired  her  to  many  a  husband  of  his  choice.  On  the  night 
appointed  for  her  nuptials,  however,  even  when  the  marriage  feast  had  been 
prepared,  this  maiden  fled  from  her  parents,  and  took  refuge  with  Brigid.84 
The  following  morning,  the  trembling  fugitive's  father  pursued  her,  with  some 
horsemen.  Seeing  this  cavalcade  at  a  distance,  the  glorious  abbess  made  a 
sign  of  the  cross.  Then,  all  were  fixed  to  the  earth,  until  they  had  repented 
of  their  evil  intention.  Afterwards,  these  horsemen  were  liberated  from 
their  strange  position.  Thus  was  the  protected  lady  delivered  from  a  worldly 
spouse,  and  united  to  a  heavenly  one,  according  to  her  own  most  earnest 
desires.85 

It  so  happened,  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  person  needing  it,  applied  to 
Brigid  for  a  measure86  of  honey.  Whilst  our  saint  felt  acutely,  that  she  had 


79  Magh-Fea  is  identified  with  the  present 
barony  of  Forth,  in  the  county  of  Carlow. 
See  O'Mahony's  Keating's  "  History  of  Ire 
land,"  book  ii.,  part  i.,  chap,  i.,  p.  421  and 
n.  60.     However,  the  real  plain  is  probably 
Magh-Feimhin. 

80  According  to  the  Latin  version,  an  ac 
count  is  thus  given,  in  the  First  Life  : — 

' '  Forcum  pinguem  ipsi  datum, 

Per  campum  Magefea  dictum  (res  pros- 
el  ara) 

Insecuti  sunt  lupi, 

Usque  dum  effugiens  veniret  ad  IIu- 
achter  Gabhra." 

— Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga. "      Vita 
Prima  S.  Brigidrc,  §  xxx.,  p.  516. 

81  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani,  who  re 
lates  these  miraculous  occurrences,   states, 
that  this   mountain    separated   the    ancient 
provinces  of  Meath  and  Leinster.    Sec  "La 
Santita   Prodigiosa.       Vita   di    S.    Brigida 
Ibernese."      Libro    Sesto,    p.    535.      This 
foreign   writer,    however,    totally   mistakes 
the    local    position    of    Grabor — or    rather 
Huachter   Gabhra — which   seems   to    have 
been  somewhere  near  or  within  the  present 
mountain  ranges  of  Slievemargy,    between 
the  county  of  Kilkenny  and  Queen's  County. 
For  some  highly  interesting  expositions,  re 
lating  to  Gabhran  territory,  the  reader  is  re 
ferred  to  a  learned  contribution,    "Topo 
graphical  and  Historical  Illustrations  of  the 


County  and  City  of  Kilkenny,"  by  John 
Ilogan.  Sec  "Journal  of  the  Kilkenny 
and  South-East  of  Ireland  Archaeological 
Society,"  vol.  v.  New  series,  pp.  234  to 
251. 

a-  In  those  early  days,  such  animals  in 
fested  our  woods  and  wastes,  and  to  them 
might  well  apply  the  poet's  lines  :— 

"  Cruel  as  death,  and  hungry  as  the  grave, 

Burning  for  blood,  bony,  and  gaunt,  and 
grim, 

Assembling  wolves  in  raging  troops  de 
scend, 

And,  pouring  o'er  the  country,  bear 
along, 

Keen  as  the  north  wind  sweeps  the  glossy 
snow. 

All  is  their  prize." 

— James  Thomson's  "  Winter." 

83  See   Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vita  Tertia   S.  Brigida?,  cap.  cxxix.  and  p. 
78,  pp.  541,  545.     Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidte, 
lib.  ii.,  cap.  xciv. ,  p.  562. 

84  This    account    occurs    in    Abbate    D. 
Giacomo  Certani's  "La  Santita  Prodigiosa. 
Vita  di  S.  Brigida  Ibernese."    Libro  Sesto, 
pp.  529  to  532. 

85  See,  Colgan  s   "  Trias  Thaumaturga. 
Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  cxx. ,  p.  541- 

85  In  two  of  our  saint's  Lives,  this  "quan 
tum"  is  called  a  Sextarius,  which  was  an 
old  Roman  measure,  holding  something 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  167 


no  honey  as  a  present  for  the  applicant,  suddenly,  the  hum  of  bees  was 
heard  under  the  pavement  of  that  house,  in  which  she  resided. s?  When 
that  spot,  from  which  the  humming  proceeded,  had  been  examined,  a 
sufficient  amount  of  honey,  to  relieve  the  petitioner's  wants,  was  there  found. 
The  man  received  as  much  as  he  asked  from  St.  Brigid,  and  with  joy  returned 
afterwards  towards  his  home.'-"1 

The  following  miracle,  performed  by  St.  Brigid,  has  been  recorded. 
Cogitosus  precedes  it  with  an  account,  which  is  of  still  greater  interest,  to 
the  Irish  historian.  The  king.8-'  ruling  over  that  part  of  the  country,  in 
which  our  saint  lived.'-'0  had  ordered  the  construction  of  a  road,  which  should 
be  able  to  bear  the  driving  of  chariots,  waggons  and  other  vehicles,  with  a 
large  array  of  horse  and  foot,  tor  purposes  ot'a  social,  civil  or  military  nature. 
He  commanded  the  inhabitants  of  all  districts  and  territories,  under  his 
sway,  to  be  assembled,  and  to  take  part  in  such  labour.91  That  road,  he 
intended  to  construct  in  a  permanent  manner.  For  such  purpose,  branches 
of  trees  were  used,  and  stones  were  placed  for  a  substructure.  Certain 
trenches  or  mounds  were  formed  through  a  deep  and  an  almost  impassable 
bog,'>-'  while  they  were  brought  through  soft  and  marsh}-  places,  where  a 
large  river^  ran.  When  various  subject  tribes  and  families  had  assembled, 
t'ne  road  was  marked  out  in  different  sections,  to  be  severally  constructed, 
by  the  clans  or  people,  to  whom  those  portions  were  respectively  assigned. 
But,  when  the  difficult  and  intricate  river-section  fell  to  the  lot  of  a  certain 
powerful  clan,  its  labouring  contingent  sought  to  avoid  this  most  onerous 
part  of  the  road-making.  Compelled,  by  their  superior  force,  St.  Brigid's 
weaker  gang  of  workmen  had  to  undertake  that  labour.  The  more  powerful 
clan  unfairly  selected  an  easier  section,  which  was  apart  from  the  river. 
"Whereupon,  Brigid's  kindred'4  came  to  her,  and  complained  about  the  harsh 
and  unjust  treatment  received  from  their  stronger  rivals.  Our  saint  told  them, 
that  the  river  should  move  its  course,  from  where  they  were  obliged  to  work, 


about   our   pint   and  a  half.      In  Troy  and  ;'J  Abbate  1).  (iiacomo  Ccrtani,  who  rc- 

Avoinlupois  weight,  it  is  variously  estimated,  laics   this  incident,   calls   him  the   King  of 

as  containing  from  eighteen   to   twenty-four  Lein.iter,  and  loeali/es  the   road-making  or 

ounces.       In    Horace,   alhiMon   is   made    to  embankment  in  "la  ProvinciadiLabraide" — 

"vini   sextarius.''1     See  lib.  i. ,   Satirarum,  but   on   what   grounds   maybe   questioned, 

i.  1.  74.  See  "  La  Santita   Prodigiosa.     Vita  di    S. 

See  Abbate  D.  Giaromo  Cerlani's  "  La  JSrigida  Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  404 

Santita    Prodigiosa.       Vita    di    S.    Brigida  to  408. 
Ibernese."     Libro  Ouinto,  pp.  438,  439.  -    Most  probably  at  Kildare. 

"'See,  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. "  si  <<  According  to  the  ancient  Irish  annals, 
Vita  Secunda  S.  P.rigidie,  cap.  xxx.,  p.  and  other  fragments  of  Irish  history,  the 
522.  Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidaj,  cap.  cxxx.,  ancient  Irish  had  many  roads  which  were 
p.  541.  Vita  Ouarta  S.  Brigichfi,  lib.  ii.,  cleaned  and  kept  in  repair  according  to 
cap.  xcv.,  ]>.  562.  As  usual,  the  foregoing  law."— Dr.  O'Donovan's  "  Leabhar  na  g- 
miracle,  related  in  Vita  Ouinta  S.  Brigidre,  Ceart,  or  The  Book  of  Rights."  _  Intro- 
cap,  liv. ,  p.  582,  is  amplified,  with  many  duction,  p.  Ivi.  Some  very  curious  illustra- 
additional  details.  It  is  possible,  the  follow-  <:  MIS  and  an  enumeration  of  several  old  roads 
ing  account  may  refer  to  the  same  incident  ;  follow,  ibid.,  pp.  Ivi.  to  Ix. 
but,  most  probably,  it  relates  to  a  different  ^  Cntnna,  Anglicc,  h>?s,  are  frequently 
miracle  : —  mentioned  in  the  Lives  of  our  Irish  saints. 

9!  This  may  have  been  the  Liffy  or  the 

"  Medo  erat  ei  oblatus  Barrow. 

Nee    detriment!   quidquam    passus    est  w  This,  with  other  allusions  in  her  Acts, 

offerens  :  seems  to  indicate,  that  St.  Brigid's   family 

Repertus  est  juxta  ipsius  domum  belonged  to  Leinster,  at  least  on  her  father's 

Sine  defectu  vel  augmento. "  side. 

93  See  Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga. 

Vita  Prima   S.   Brigidx,  sec.  xli.,  p.  517.  Vita  Secunda  S.   Brigidiv,  cap.  xxxi.,  pp. 

Ibid.  522,  523- 


1 68  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


and  should  run  through  that  section,  chosen  by  their  oppressors.  On  the 
morning,  when  all  were  assembled  for  the  work,  it  was  found,  the  river  left 
its  former  bed,  and  that  place,  for  which  St.  Brigid's  friends  had  been 
specially  drafted  ;  while,  its  course  ran  near  to  that  quarter,  selected  by  the 
numerous  and  powerful  clan,  who  had  thought  to  circumvent  and  oppress 
their  weaker  fellow-labourers.  As  a  proof  of  this  miracle,  attributed  to  the 
holy  abbess,  Cogitosus  remarks,  the  deserted  channel  and  empty  valley, 
which  had  formerly  been  filled  with  water,  might  be  seen,  in  his  time  ;  while, 
the  river  itself  flowed  at  some  distance  from  this  natural  channel,  but  then  a 
dry  and  deserted  hollow.05  Long  after  the  illustrious  saint's  departure, 
popular  tradition  preserved  a  recollection  of  the  supernatural  occurrence,  and 
associated  it  with  some  particular  conformation  of  ground,?6  which  probably 
has  not  yet  disappeared.  It  seems  not  unlikely,  a  river  not  far  from  Kildare 
and  some  contiguous  boggy  or  low-lying  land  may  afford  a  clue  to  discover 
that  dried  channel. 

Among  the  number  of  our  saint's  miracles,  Cogitosus  tells  us,  that  the 
following  occurrence  is  not  the  least  memorable.  Three  lepers,  having  asked 
an  alms  from  St.  Brigid,  received  from  her  a  silver  vessel.97  Fearing,  how 
ever,  that  distributing  the  proceeds  of  this  gift  might  prove  a  cause  of  con 
tention  among  them,  our  saint  directed  a  certain  man,  accustomed  to  deal 
in  silver  and  gold,  that  he  should  divide  the  vessel  into  three  equal  parts. 
One  of  these  was  to  be  the  property  of  each  leper.  The  dealer  in  precious 
metals  began  to  excuse  himself,  by  saying,  that  he  could  not  fairly  execute 
such  a  commission.  Then,  holy  Brigid,  taking  the  silver  vessel,  cast  it 
against  a  stone  and  broke  it,  as  she  intended,  into  three  parts  equally 
valuable. s8  Wonderful  to  relate  !  when  these  three  divisions  were  afterwards 
weighed,  no  single  fragment  was  found  to  be  lighter  or  heavier  than  another,00- 
even  in  the  slightest  appreciable  degree.  Thus,  without  envy  or  quarrel, 
these  poor  men  returned  joyfully  to  their  homes.100 

We  are  informed,101  that  while  the  holy  abbess  and  her  nuns  were  en 
gaged  in  prayer,  a  certain  rich  nobleman  suffered  from  a  dangerous  attack 
of  fever.102  Setting  little  account  on  his  temporal  possessions,  at  that  time, 
and  being  willing  to  perform  a  meritorious  action,  he  desired  his  servants  to 
select  and  present  the  best  cow  from  his  herd,  as  a  gift  for  our  saint.  His  ser 
vants,  however,  selected  the  worst  heifer,  which  could  be  found  ;  but,  on  the 


96  See  ibid.      In   the   Third   and   Fourth  Fonderatje  erant  illre  partcs  per  artificem: 
Lives  of  our  saint,  the  foregoing  account  is  Et  repertum  est  (ecce  miraculum  aliud), 
greatly  abridged.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigida:,  Quod  nulla  pars  inventa  est 

cap.  cxxxi.,  p.  541.    Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigid^,  1'rceponderasse  alteri." 

lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcvi.,  p.   562.      In  the  latter 

lives,  it  is  also  stated,  that  the  dry  course  of  — Vita  Prima  S.  Brigidse,  sees,  xxxix.,  xl., 

the  river  was  to  be  seen  at  a  time  when  the  p.   5 1 7.      See  also  a  similar  statement  in 

authors  wrote.  Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  liv.,  pp.  580, 

97  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  58 r- 

Santita   Prodigiosa.      Vita   di    S.    Brigida  "  Cogitosus  adds,  as  it  were  parentheti- 

Ibernese."     Libro  Quinto,  pp.  43610438.  cally,  "  licet  uno  obulo,  de  his  inventa  est 

98  This  miraculous  occurrence  seems  al-  tribus  partibus." 

luded  to,  when  we  read,  according  to  the  I0°  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumattirga." 

Latin  version  of  St.  Brogan  Cloen's  original  Secunda  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  cap.   xxviii.,  p. 

Irish  :—  522. 

101  In  St.  Brigid's  Sixth  Metrical  Life. 

"  Donarium  argenteum,   quod   non   potuit  I02  "  Dives  habebat  opes  teger,  quod  per- 

frangere  deret  auri, 

Faber   gerarius   (quod   prseclarum    erat  Copiam  &  argenti,  multarum  pondera 

Sanctse)  rerum, 

Fregit  Brigida  sua  manu,  Centones,    stimulos,    pecora,    ac  in- 

Ut  exsiliei-it  in  tres  partes  tequales.  gentia  rura." 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.  169 


night  following,  the  animal,  thus  selected,  was  killed  by  seven  wolves.  I03  In 
the  morning,  those  herdsmen  not  only  found  the  heifer  killed,  in  the  midst  of 
other  cattle,  but  even  the  dead  bodies  of  those  seven  wolves  were  scattered 
near  the  carcass,  which  they  had  not  been  able  to  devour.  This  remarkable 
occurrence  was  long  remembered  in  that  part  of  the  province.104  Our  saint's 
great  miracles  were  not  alone  famous  in  her  own  country  ;  for,  with  the 
lapse  of  time,  Brigid's  name  became  celebrated  through  all  nations,  where 
the  Christian  faith  had  been  received. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

bT.  BRIGID'S  REPUTED  RESIDENCE  AT  GLASTONBURY — THE  EARLY  PRACTICE  OF  WRITING 

AND  ILLUMINATING  IN  IRELAND — WRITINGS  ASCRIBED  TO  ST.  BRIGID — THE  CON- 
VEN'lUAL  RULE  AND  DISCIPLINE,  UNDER  WHICH  HERSELF  AND  HER  NUNS  LIVED 
—  HER  CHARITY  IN  RELIEVING  THE  POOR — HER  MODESTY,  HER  SELF-SACRIFICING 
SPIRIT,  HER  LIBERALITY,  HER  GIFTS  OF  MIND  AND  PERSON,  HER  POWERS  FOR 
HEALING  THE  SICK  AND  INFIRM,  HER  VIGILS,  AND  HER  CARE  FOR  SUBJECTS. 

WE  cannot  receive  as  duly  authenticated,  or  even  as  probable,  several 
assertions  of  mediaeval  and  more  recent  writers,  who  have  treated  concerning 
this  illustrious  virgin.  It  has  been  stated,  that  about  the  year  488,  Saint 
Brigid  left  Ireland,  and  proceeded  towards  Glastonbury.1  There,  it  is  said, 
she  remained,  until  advanced  in  years,  on  an  island,  and  convenient  to  the 
monastery  in  that  place.2  Whether  she  died  there  or  returned  to  Ireland  is 
doubted.3  But,  it  seems  probable  enough,  such  a  tradition  had  its  origin, 
owing  to  this  circumstance,  that  a  different  St.  Brigid,  called  of  Inis-bridge, 
or  of  Bride's  Island,  had  been  the  person  really  meant.  She  lived  many 
years  on  a  small  island,  near  Glastonbury,  called  Brides-hay,  i.e.,  Brigida. 
tnsula.4  This  latter  St.  Brigid  is  said  to  have  been  buried,  at  Glastonbury.5 
Another  cause  for  a  grievous  mistake,  about  St.  Brigid's  and  St.  Columkille's6 


'°3  These  animals  appear  to  have  been  very  -  Colgan,  referring  to  this  fable,  remarks 

numerous  in  Ireland,  as  also  to  have  been  on  the  ignorance  of  that  writer,  who  assigned 

destructive  to  human  beings  and  to  domes-  the    burial-place  of    these  aforesaid    saints 

ticatecl  animals.     At  so  la\e  a  period  as  the  to  Glastonbury.     This  city  never  contained 

beginning  of  last  century,  some  wolves  were  the   bodies  of  our   St.  Brigid,   nor  of  St. 

to  be  found.    In  Ulster,  the  last  wolf  known  Columkille,    Abbot    and    Confessor.*     The 

to    exist    was    hunted    from    Benyevanagh  latter    is    even    ignorantly   named,    Colum 

mountain,   in   Londonderry  county,    and   it  Killa,  after  such  a  manner,  as  to  indicate  a 

was  killed   in  the   woods    near    Dungiven.  female.      See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."     Ap- 

See   "  Legend  Lays  of  Ireland,"  by  Lage-  pendix  Ouarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  vi., 

niensis,  No.  II.,  n.  i.,  p.  8.  pp.  617,  618. 

IO-»  See    Colgan's   "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  3  Such  is  the  account,  given  by  an  ancient 

Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  xxxv.,  p.  569.  anonymous  chronographer  of  Glastonbury. 

CHAPTER   xm. — J  Whilst   it   has    been  bee  Ussher's  "Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum 

falsely  supposed,  by  some   Scottish  writers,  Antiquitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  467. 
that  the  great  St.  Brigid  had  been   buried  4  We  find  it  also  called  Parva  Hibernia, 

at  Abernethy,  in  Scotland,  an  error  nearly  and  Bckery,   reminding  us  of  Beg-Eri,  off 

similar   has    been    propagated    through    a  the  coast  of  Wexford,  and  about  three  miles 

treatise,  "On  the  Antiquities  of  Glastonbury  and  a  half  mile  north-east  of  that  town.     See 

Church."     Here,  it  was  supposed,  that  St.  "  Parliamentary  Gazetteer  of  Ireland,"  vol. 

Brigid   and   St.    Colum-Kille   were  buried,  i. ,  p.  230. 

on  the  northern  side  of  its  high   altar,  in   a  5  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga. 

conspicuous    stone    tomb,     and    over    the  Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 

monument  of  John  de  Cantia,  Abbot.     See  vi.,  p.  618. 
Ussher's  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Anti-  6  See  ibid.,  pp.  617,  618. 

quitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  pp,  466,  467. 


170 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


interment  at  Glastonbury,  may  be  traced,  owing  to  this  latter  place  having 
been  possibly  confounded  with  Down,  in  Ireland. ?  This  city  was  called 
Dun  da-Lethglas,8  in  our  ancient  language.  A  fable,  propagated  by  some 
ignorant  legend-mongers  and  scribes,  had  its  probable  origin  from  the 
circumstance,  that  our  two  great  Irish  Saints  had  been  buried,  in  the  town 
or  fort  called  Leath-glas ;  while,  it  is  supposed,  Lcat/i-glas  had  been  incor 
rectly  substituted  for  Glaston?  It  is  said,  this  latter  designation  may  be 
more  fully  Anglicized,  "  the  glassy  city,"  or  "the  city  of  glass.'  ' 

Among  other  laudable  practices,  which  were  followed  by  tne  pious  and 
cultivated  intelligence  of  holy  Brigid,  her  nuns  and  scribes,11  that  of  writing 
or  copying  religious  books  must  deserve  especial  regard.12 
to  Pa^an  times,  and  derivable  from  eastern  climes,  or  from  the  Druidic 
schools,^  the  long-neglected  Celtic  art  of  illumination  was,  at  least,  charac 
teristic  of  the  ages  of  faith  in  this  kingdom.1*  So  skilful  were  our  sainted 
illuminators  of  old,  so  wonderful  was  their  work  of  ornamentation,  so  elaborate, 
so  interlaced  and  intertwined,  so  minute  and  yet  so  perfect  in  all  details  were 
the  manuscripts  of  our  ancient  scribes,1*  that  the  first  Anglo-Norman  sett 


i  It  is  true,  the  okl  writer  expresses  some 
doubt  respecting  the  reliability  of  his  infor 
mation. 

8  It  is  rendered  in  Latin,  collcm  or  more 
correctly,  arccm  binomm  mediorum  catena, 
according  to  Joceline,   in  his   Life  of   St. 
Patrick. 

9  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S .  Brigidie,  cap. 
vi.,  p.  618. 

10  The  very  inexact  chronographer  brings 
St.   Columkille  to   Glastonbury,  A.D.   504, 
several  years  before   the  great  Apostle  of 
Caledonia  was   born.      See  Ussher's   "  Bri- 
tannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Antiquitates,"  cap. 

xvii.,  p.  467- 

11  The  most  illustrious  artists  of  modern 
times  have  not  concealed  their  admiration 
for  these  works  of  our  fathers  ;  they  only 
lament,  that  it  seems  to  be  no  longer  possible 
to  imitate  them.    Digby  Wyatt  and  Professor 
J.   O.    Westwood   have    strongly  expressed 
themselves,  concerning  the  beauty  and  ori 
ginality  of  this  Keltic  art.    See  J.  O.  West- 
wood's     "  Paktographia    Sacra    Pictoria." 
Book  of  Kells,  p.  I. 

12  Among  the  most  elegant  and  curious 
illustrations  of  ancient  Irish  caligraphy, 
produced  in  our  day,  must  be  noticed  those 
incomparable  drawings  of  fac-similes,  by 
Miss  Margaret  Stokes,  included  in  a  very 
large  but  thin  410  work,  intituled,  "De 
scriptive  Remarks  on  Illuminations  in  Cer 
tain  Ancient  Irish  Manuscripts,"  by  Rev. 
fames  Henthorn  Todd,  D.D.,  F.S.A. 
London,  M.DCCC. LXIX.  The  monogram 
copied  from  the  "  Book  of  Kells"  is  alone 
a  most  wonderful  art  production.  Another 
charming  work  contains  coloured  drawings 
on  stone  of  natural  landscapes  and  interlaced 
letters  or  fac-similes,  exactly  copied  from  Irish 
Manuscripts  or  scenes  by  Miss  Stokes.  This 
is  intituled,  "The  Cromlech  on  Howth." 
A  Poem.  By  Samuel  Ferguson,  Q.C., 
M.R.I. A.  With  illuminations  from  the 


Book  of  Kells  and  of  Durrow,  and  Draw 
ings  from  Nature.  By  M.  S.  With  Notes 
on  Celtic  ornamental  Art.  Revised  by 
George  Petrie,  LL.D.  London,  mdccclxi., 
folio  size. 

13  See  some  admirable  observations,  re 
ferring  to  this  very  subject,  in  Very  Rev. 
Ulick  J.   Bourke's   "  Aryan  Origin  of  the 
Gaelic    Race   and    Language,"   &c.,   chap, 
xii.,  pp.  328  to  338. 

14  See  an  interesting  article,  on      l  lie  Art 
of  Illuminating  :  as  it  was  practised  of  old  : 
its  revival,"  appended  to  Very  Rev.  Ulick 
I.  Bourke's  work,  "The  Bull  ' Ineffabilis' 
in  Four  Languages  ;  or,  The  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  Most  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
denned,"  &c.,  pp.  103  to  122. 

J5  For  proof  of  these  assertions,  the  reader 
has  only  to  examine  some  of  the  many  ori 
ginals    in    our    Dublin    Libraries.       Failing 
such  opportunity,   a  magnificent  and  very 
laro-e  410  work  will  satisfy.     It  is  intituled, 
"Fac-similes   of  National   Manuscripts   01 
Ireland,"    selected    and    edited    under    the 
direction  of  the  Rt.  Hon.  Edward  Sullivan, 
Master  of  the   Rolls   in  Ireland,   by  J.  T. 
Gilbert,    F.S.A.,   M.R.I. A.,    Secretary   of 
the  Public   Record  Office   of  Ireland,  and 
Photozincographed    by   command   of    Her 
Majesty  Queen  Victoria,  by  Major-General 
Sir   Henry  James,  R.E.,  F.R.S.,  Director 
General  of  the  Ordnance   Survey,   part   i. 
Published  by  Authority  cf  the  Lords  Com 
missioners  of  Her  Majesty's  Treasury,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Master  of  the  Rolls  in 
Ireland.     Public  Record  Office  of  Ireland, 
Dublin,  MDCCCLXXIV.     No  less  than  forty- 
four  beautifully  coloured  plates,  containing 
several  hundred  most  elegant  and   accurate 
specimens  of  initial  letters,  are  in  this  part. 
It  includes,  likewise,  a  learned  introduction, 
with   historic   and   descriptive   memoranda, 
as  also  modern  versions,  for  the  use  of  per 
sons  unaccustomed  to  the  archaic  caligraphy 
of  the  manuscript  pages  delineated. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


171 


regarded  those  vellum  pages  as  the  work  of  angels,  and  not  of  men.16  Giraldus 
Cambrensis  relates,  that  a  tradition  existed  in  his  day,  concerning  a  miracle, 
said  to  have  taken  place,  during  our  saint's  life-time.1?  On  a  certain  occasion', 
a  scribe,  belonging  to  St.  Brigid's  monastery,  undertook  transcription  of  a 
book  of  the  Gospels,  according  to  St.  Jerome's  version.13  That  night,  on 
which  he  had  commenced  his  task,  an  angel  is  said  to  have  appeared.  This 
heavenly  messenger  bore  a  certain  tablet,  upon  which  a  beautiful  impression 
was  depicted  ;  at  the  same  time,  that  angel  asked  the  scribe,  if  he  could 
reproduce  a  similar  illustration,  on  the  title-page.  The  writer  replied,  such  an 
effort  exceeded  his  ability.  Then  the  angel  said  :  "  On  to-morrow,  tell  your 
mistress,  she  must  pour  forth  her  prayers  before  Cod's  throne,  so  that  your 
corporal  and  mental  vision  may  be  able  to  behold  accurately,  and  to  under 
stand  with  due  perception,  and  that  your  hand  maybe  properly  directed,  in  trac 
ing  corresponding  characters."  The  following  night,  an  angel  again  appeared. 
He  bore  the  same  drawing,  and  presented  many  other  illustrations.  All  of 
these,  that  scribe  carefully  impressed  on  his  memory  ;  while,  with  the  greatest 
exactness,  he  reproduced  those  different  figures  and  tracings  represented, 
introducing  them  in  suitable  places,  throughout  his  book,  it  is  remarked,  St. 
Brigid  continued  her  prayers,  during  the  progress  of  this  wonderful  work, 
until  it  issued  from  the  scribe's  hands,  in  a  most  perfect  state. '3  Afterwards, 
this  manuscript  was  an  object  of  admiration  to  all  persons  of  taste.  It  called 
forth  the  warm  eulogistic  commendations  of  Giraldus  Cambrensis,20  who 
appears  to  have  examined  it  with  great  interest  and  minuteness.21 

It  seems  probable,  that  such  a  tradition  as  the  foregoing  may  serve  to 
account  for  a  rumour,  regarding  our  saint  having  composed  '"  Twelve  Books 
of  Revelations."  However,  it  will  be  found,  on  enquiry,  that  no  ancient 


10  The  late  lamented  Rev.  James  (laffney 
writes,  "The  wondrous  excellence  attained 
by  the  Iri>h  in  the  art  of  illuminating  has 
never  been  equalled.'' — "The  Ancient  Irish 
Chinch,''  chap,  iv.,  p.  IIO,  n. 

'7  See  (jiraldi  Cambrensis  "  Opera.'' 
Edited  by  James  !•'.  Dimock,  M.A.,  vol. 
v.  "Topographic  Ilibernica,"  distinctio 
ii.,  cap.  xxxviii.,  p.  125. 

'"  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga,"  p.  607. 

'' See  (liralili  Cambrensis  "Opera." 
Edited  by  James  I'".  Dimock,  M.A.,  vol.  v. 
"Topographic  Hibeniicc,''  distinctio  ii., 
cap.  xxxix.,  p.  124.  Alluding  to  the  won 
derful  "  l!ook  of  Kells,"  it  has  been  ob 
served  :  "  Of  this  very  book,  Mr.  West- 
wood  examined  the  pages,  as  I  did,  for 
hours  together,  without  ever  detecting  a 
false  line,  or  an  irregular  interlacement. 
In  one  space  of  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
superficial  he  counted,  with  a  magnifying- 
glass,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  interlacements,  of  a  slender  ribbon 
pattern,  formed  of  white  lines,  edged  by 
black  ones,  upon  a  black  ground.  No 
wonder  that  tradition  should  allege  that 
these  unerring  lines  should  have  been  traced 
by  angel-."— "The  Art  of  Illuminating: 
what  it  was, — what  it  should  be, — and  how 
it  may  be  practised."  An  Essay,  by  Uigby 
Wyatt,  Architect.  Appended  to  a  series  of 
plates  executed  by  W.  R.  Tymms,  illustrative 
of  the  Art  of  Illuminating,  as  practised  in 


Europe  from  the  earliest  times.  Part  i.,  p. 
15.  Eondon  :  privately  printed,  410,  no 
date. 

-°  lie  remarks  :  Here  do  you  sec  the 
Divinely-impressed  face  of  Majesty;  here 
the  evangelistic  and  mystic  forms,  some 
having  six,  some  four,  and  some  two  wings  ; 
here  the  head  of  an  eagle,  there  that  of  a 
calf,  here  the  face  of  a  man,  and  there  that 
of  a  lion.  Should  you  superficially  look, 
and  in  the  usual  manner,  with  less  acute- 
ness,  you  will  see  an  erasure  rather  than  a 
ligature  ;  and  where  nothing  but  subtility  is 
found,  you  little  regard  the  perfection  of 
subtility.  But,  if  you  strain  the  eye  to  a 
more  minute  examination,  and  to  a  keen 
perception  of  the  very  secrets  of  art,  so 
delicate  and  refined,  so  thin  and  firm,  so 
interlaced  and  branchy,  so  vivid  are  the 
colours,  that  you  may  note  intricate  illustra 
tions  :  hence,  you  should  be  inclined  to  pro 
nounce  these,  not  produced  by  human  in 
dustry,  but  rather  to  regard  them  as  angelic 
compositions.  Sec  cap.  xxxviii.,  p.  123, 
of  the  treatise  already  cited. 

-'  The  description,  which  Giraldus  gives, 
regarding  the  appearance  of  this  volume  in 
his  day,  is  a  very  interesting  one,  as  recorded 
in  his  work,  "Topographia  Hibernuv,  sive, 
De  Mirabilibus  Hiberniae."  Distinctio 
Secunda,  cap.  xxxviii.  See  Camden's 
"  Anglica,  Normannica,  Ilibernica,  Cam- 
brica,  a  veteribus  scripta, "  p.  730. 


172 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


writers  of  Saint  Brigid's  Acts  have  the  least  mention  about  her  having  written 
"  Revelations,"  although  they  record  pretty  generally,  that  she  had  frequent 
prophetic  inspirations.22  Hence,  such  a  treatise  must  he  regarded  as  spurious, 
if  referred  to  the  authorship  of  this  holy  woman.  We  may  assume  very  fairly, 
that  those  "  Twelve  Books  of  Revelations''  ^  extant  are  rather  attributable 
to  St  Brigid  Queen  of  Sweden,  than  to  any  Irish  or  Scottish  Saint,  bearing 
a  like  name  2*  John  Bale  appears  to  have  been  the  first  author,  who  ascribes 
to  our  Irish  St.  Brigid  the  production  in  question.  He  tells  us,  those 
"  Revelations"  were  contained  in  Twelve  Books,  in  the  first  edition  of  his 
work  •  although,  he  states,  in  the  second  edition,  they  were  comprised  in  one 
book  =s  However  Bale  seems  to  have  misconstrued  the  meaning  of  Giraldus, 
in  his  treatise  on  "  The  Wonders  of  Ireland.'"  Although  this  latter  writer 
describes  a  book  in  relation  to  the  concordance  of  the  Four  Gospels,  accord- 
ins  to  St  Jerome,  as  having  been  written  for  St.  Brigid,  by  a  scribe,  and 
under  the  direction  of  an  angel ;  still,  Cambrensis  has  no  mention  whatever, 
re^ardincr  the  holy  abbess  having  composed  a  Book  or  Books  of  Revelations 
Other  authors  have  followed  Bale,  in  his  statement.  Eisengremus26  and 
Antonio  Possevino2?  are  among  these,  while  Gcsncr23  and  Dempsta 

The  holy  Patroness  of  Ireland  is  said  to  have  written  some  tracts.30  The 
principal  and  best  authenticated  among  these  was  a  Rule,  thought  to  have 
been  composed  by  her,  for  the  guidance  of  those  female  religious,  who  were 
members  of  her  institute.*'  A  poem,  in  the  Irish  language,  on  the  'Virtues 
of  St  Patrick,"  is  attributed  to  her ;  besides,  a  small  treatise  intituled,- 
«  The  Quiver  of  Divine  Love,"  ^  and  an  Epistle,  in  Irish,  to  St.  Aid  or 
Aidus  son  of  De^il.  In  it  she  dissuades  him  from  taking  a  journey.  Colgan 


-  "  Nee  defuit  illi  spiritus  prophctice,  quo 
multa  futura  veluti  prcesentia  indicabat.'  - 
"  Officium  S.  Brigidce."  Noct.  sec.  Lect. 
vi.  Die  I.  Fehruarii.  "  Breviarium  Ro- 
ra'anum."  Pars  Hiemalis.  Supplementum 
pro  Clero  Hibernico. 

23'A  very  curious  and  an  early  printed  book, 
of  an  exceedingly  small  410  shape,  is  inti 
tuled,  ' '  Orationes  devotissime  et  mill  turn 
meritorie  :  sancte  et  preclarissime  Brigitte 
vidue  et  passione  Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christ! : 
certisque  orationibus  et  benedictionibus  pre- 
stantissimis  magnarumque  indulgentiarum 
annexis."  Under  this  title,  there  is  a  rude 
wood-cut  representing  St.  Brigid,  Queen  of 
Sweden,  kneeling  before  a  crucifix.  A  short 
Latin  Life,  with  an  account  of  her  Revela 
tions,  follows.  The  prayers  which  succeed 
are  in  Latin,  in  black-letter,  and  in  ancient 
type,  with  contractions.  I  find  no  date  or 
colophon,  indicating  the  year  when  printed, 
in  a  copy  of  this  very  rare  work,  kindly  lent 
to  me  by  its  owner,  Jasper  Robert  Joly, 
LL.D.,  whose  private  library  contains  so 
many  unique  literary  rarities. 

=4  See  John  Lesley's  work,  "  De  Ongme 
Moribus,  et  Rebus  Gestis  Scotorum,"  lib. 
iv  p.  149.  Romse,  M.D.LXXVIII,  410. 

25See  Bale's  "  Scriptorum  Illustrium 
Majoris  Britannia?  quern  mine  Angliam  et 
Scotiam  vocant,  Catalogus."  Cent,  i.,  f. 
28,  b.  and  Cent,  xiv.,  cap.  ii.,  edition, 
Basil,  A.D.  1557. 

26  In  "Catalogo  Testmm  Ventatis,    p. 


49,  b. 

"i  In  "Apparatus  Sacer,  tomus  v.,  p. 
240. 

-8  In  his  "  Bibliotheca,  sen  Scriptorum 
Catalogus." 

=9  Dempster,  in  his  "  Historia  Ecclesi- 
astica  Gentis  Scotorum,"  lib.  ii.,  n.  144, 
when  treating  about  St.  Brigid,  says,  that 
Thomas  Stabbes,  a  Dominican,  and  Richard 
Lauinbam,  a  Carmelite,  about  the  year  1370, 
publicly  expounded,  at  Oxford,  the  meaning 
of  those  Revelations.  The  aforesaid  re 
nowned  philosophers  and  theologians  added 
commentaries  and  dissertations.  Dempster, 
also,  states,  that  Alanus  de  Limma,  a  Car 
melite,  edited  St.  Brigid's  Book  of  "  Reve 
lations,"  about  the  year  1420. 

3°  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His 
tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sect,  vi., 

n.  9S»  PP-  458,  459- 

v  Benedictus  Haeflenus,  in  Disquisition 
Monast.,  lib.  i.,  tract  6,  disquis.  3,  declares 
such  a  multitude  of  nuns  and  nunneries  to 
have  been  under  St.  Brigid's  rule,  that 
Joannes  de  Bruella  orMauburnus,  Abbot  of 
Lioriancensis,  in  his  "  Venatorio  Canoni- 
corum  Regularium,"  did  not  hesitate  to  de 
signate  our  holy  abbess,  as  presiding  over 
13,000  nuns. 

3*  It  begins  with  "  Denletha  do  Crich- 
Rois." 

33  Or  sometimes  called,  "  Quiver  of  Pious 
Desires,"  according  to  the  English  form  of 
translation. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B  RIGID. 


had  in  his  possession  a  copy  of  these  latter  tracts.3-*  In  addition,  there  were 
other  works,  falsely  ascribed  to  her,  as  may  be  seen  by  referring  to  Harris' 
Ware.35 

L  Brigid  appears  to  have  established  different  houses  belonging  to  her 
order,  in  various  parts  of  Ireland,  after,  if  not  before,  the  foundation  of  her 
nunnery  at  Kildare.  Vet,  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  determine  the  dates,  when 
th.se  several  establishments  were  erected,  owing  to  that  loose  and  unchrono- 
lopcal  manner,  in  which  they  are  mentioned,  throughout  her  different  lives. 
The  monasteries  established  by  St.  Brigid  conferred  great  blessings  on  this 
country,  by  making  accessible  to  the  people  the  boon  of  religious  education.  36 
We  are  informed,  that  her  Rule  was  followed,  for  a  long  time,  by  the  greatest 
part  of  those  monasteries,  belonging  to  sacred  virgins  in  Ireland  ;  nearly  all 
of  these  acknowledging  our  saint  as  their  mother  and  mistress,  and  the 
monastery  of  Kildare  as  the  headquarters  of  their  Order.  Moreover, 
Cogitosus  informs  us,  in  his  prologue  to  her  life,  that  not  only  did  she  rule 
nuns,  but  also  a  large  community  of  men,  who  lived  in  a  separate  monastery. 
This  obliged  the  saint  to  call  to  her  aid,  and  from  out  his  solitude,  the  holy 
bishop,  S.  Conlaeth,  to  be  the  director  and  spiritual  father  of  her  religious  ; 
and.  at  the  same  time,  to  be  bishop  of  the  city.  The  church  at  Kildare, 
to  suit  the  necessities  of  the  double  monastery  and  to  accommodate  the  laity, 
was  divided  by  partitions  into  three  distinct  parts.  One  of  these  was  reserved 
for  the  monks  ;  one  for  the  nuns  ;  while  a  third  compartment  was  intended 
to  suit  the  requirements  of  the  laity.3? 

A  controversy  had  been  carried  on,  between  Fathers  of  the  Order, 
designated  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Augustine,  and  the  Hermits  of  St.  Augustine, 
commonly  called  Augustinians  ;  either  party  contending,  that  our  saint 
derived  her  rule  from,  or  that  her  order  belonged  to,  a  class  of  nuns,  pro 
fessing  adhesion  to  their  respective  religious  institutes.  Colgan  would  not 
undertake  to  decide  this  question,  although  he  thinks  it  must  be  allowed,  St. 
Brigid  observed  whatever  rule  St.  Patrick  introduced,  and  wished  to  be  pro 
pagated,  throughout  Ireland  ;  for,  we  have  already  seen,  that  her  vows  were 
received,  or  that  she  was  veiled,  by  Saints  Mel  or  Maccaleus,  the  disciples  of 
St.  Patrick.33  Again,  we  are  told,  that  neither  of  the  Augustinian  institutes, 
already  mentioned,  had  any  existence,  for  some  hundreds  of  years  after  St. 
Brigid's  tune.  Vet,  as  it  is  probable,  her  rule  agreed  in  substance  with  special 
regulations,  drawn  by  St.  Augustine  for  those  nuns,  over  whom  his  sister  pre 
sided  ;  so,  in  a  certain  measure,  possibly  Brigid's  Rule  may  have  been  modelled 
after  the  Augustinian  prescriptions.3-1  It  has  been  remarked,  by  Colgan,  as 
he  could  not  pronounce  St.  Patrick  having  belonged  either  to  the  Hermit 
Fathers,  or  to  the  Canons  Regular  of  St.  Augustine,  neither  could  he  decide 
that  St.  Brigid  embraced  the  rule  of  one  order  or  the  other.  He  thinks, 
however,  St.  Patrick  must  have  adopted  and  introduced  into  Ireland  the 
same  Apostolic  Rule,  which  St.  Augustine  observed,  and  which  he  propagated 
throughout  Europe  and  Africa.  It  has  been  remarked,  however,  that  although 


;4  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Appendix  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  1st,  pp.   17, 

Tertia  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidre,  cap.  ii.,  p.  610.  18. 

"See,    vol.    ii.,    "Writers    of   Ireland,"  r'3  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

hook  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  12,  and  nn.  c,  d,  e,  f,  Vita   Secunda   S.  Brigidre,  cap.  iii.,  p.  519. 

g,  h,  ibid.  Vita  Tertia  S.   Brigidrc,  cap.  xviii.,  p.  529. 

3^  Pastoral  Letter  of  His  Eminence  Paul  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidte,  cap.  xxviii.,  xxix., 

Cardinal  Cullen,  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  to  pp.  573,  574.     Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigida?,  sees, 

the  Clergy  of  the  Diocese  of  Dublin,  on  the  xii.,  xiii.,  p.  584. 

Feast  of  St.  Brigid.     Dublin :  January  25th,  39  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 

1872,  Svo.  tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sect,  vi., 

37  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of  n.  94,  p.  458. 


174  LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


our  saint  presided  over  numerous  holy  communities  of  men  and  women,  yet 
comparatively  few  of  her  disciples  are  mentioned  by  name. 

Like  those  holy  ones  mentioned  in  the  Apocalypse,-*0  we  learn  from  the 
different  Acts  of  St.  Brigid,  already  cited,  that  our  saint  assumed  a  white 
veil,  while  she  wore  a  white  cloak  or  dress.41  These  garments,  likewise, 
must  have  been  the  distinguishing  habit  of  her  nuns.  In  vicv/  of  such  well- 

O  O 

attested  distinction,  it  seems  unaccountable,  that  the  Order  of  Brigitines, 
established  in  the  Dioceses  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,  during  the  present 
century,  and  assuming  our  holy  abbess  as  their  great  patroness,  should  use 
a  black  dress,  for  a  characteristic  of  their  conventual  life. 

The  illustrious  Patroness  of  Kildare  gave  a  Rule  to  her  nuns  ;  and  thus, 
she  is  justly  numbered  among  the  founders  of  religious  orders.42  The  Life 
of  Ciaran  of  Clonmacnoise  states,43  that  the  Order  of  Brighit  was  one  of  the 
eight  religious  orders,  that  were  in  Erinn.44  It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  we 
cannot  now  recover  the  Rules  of  this  order,  which  doubtless  must  have  been 
replete  with  wisdom.  Various  accounts,  contained  in  former  religious  rules 
established  in  Ireland,  are  interesting,  as  serving  to  convey  an  idea  of  ancient 
conventual  or  monastic  modes  for  living.45  It  is  thought,  even  although  St. 
Brigid  might  have  embraced  a  Rule,  existing  before  her  time  ;  yet,  it  may 
have  been  altogether  changed,  or  greatly  modified,  as  she  is  believed  to  have 
written  a  special  Rule46  and  to  have  established  a  particular  institute  for  holy 
women  in  Ireland. 4? 

The  poor  and  the  destitute  are  the  chosen  friends  of  Christ.  Our  Divine 
Redeemer  has  declared,  that  He  will  accept  and  reward  hereafter,  as  done 
unto  Himself,  whatsoever  we  do  to  the  lowliest  among  them.  St.  Brigid 
saw  the  image  of  Christ  reflected  in  every  suffering  waif  of  humanity.  By 
charity,  our  Divine  Lord  wishes  His  disciples  to  be  known,  and  He  tells  us, 
that  at  the  last  accounting  day,  He  shall  cast  from  among  His  children  those, 
who,  during  life,  refuse  to  hear  the  prayers  of  God's  poor.  The  tender  soul 
and  compassionate  disposition  of  our  abbess  were  ever  sympathetic  to  the 
cry  of  supplication  or  distress.  Only  her  own  spirit  or  the  angel  of  God 
could  record  Brigid's  many  miracles.48  Her  Sixth  Metrical  Life  contains  an 
account,  concerning  these  following  miracles,  not  found  related  in  the  holy 
woman's  other  Lives.  A  shepherd  boy,  who  had  lost  some  sheep,  or  swine, 
belonging  to  his  father,  feared  displeasure.  He  besought  our  saint  to  inter 
cede  for  him,  and  to  obtain  a  pardon  for  his  neglect.  This  she  undertook 
to  accomplish,  and,  in  addition,  she  miraculously  procured  the  restoration  of 
that  full  number  of  animals,  which  had  been  missing.4?  While  she  prayed  in 


40  See  Apoc.  iv.,  4.  Breac,"  contains  a  Rule  of  the  Cele  De  or 

41  At  the  time  of  her  religious  reception  Cnldees  from  Modruain.     The  xxii.  vol.  of 
or  profession,  it  is  stated,  that  the  prelate  O'Longan   MSS.   in   the    R.I. A.    contains 
who  officiated  "  induit  illam  veste  Candida  three  anonymous  Quatrains,  in   the  second 
et    pallio  albo." — "  Officium  S.   Brigidx-."  of  which  there  is  a  curious  reference  to  the 
Noct.    sec.    lect.    v.       Die    I.     Februarii.  habits  of  the  Ceile  TJe,  or  Culdee  order,  p. 
"  Breviarium  Romanum."     Pars  Hiemalis.  322. 

Supplemental!!  pro  Clero  Hibernico.  "6  This  is  stated,  in  the  Acts  of  St.  Kiaran, 

4;  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould's  "Lives  of  Abbot  of  Clonmacnoise. 

the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  ist,  p.  17.  47  See    Colgan's   "Trias   Thaumaturga." 

43  Chapter  xlvii.  is  quoted.     It  is  stated  Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
in  this  Life  "  Prima  regula  fuit  S.  Patricii,  x.,  p.  620. 

Secunda  S.  Brigidre,  Tertia  S.  Brendani,"  4b  Such  is  a  statement,  lound  in  Professor 

&c.     Vita  S.  Kierani  Cluanensis,  cap.  xxvi.  O'Looney's   Irish  Life  of  St.    Brigid,   pp. 

44  See   Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves'  "Mar-  47,  48. 

tyrology  of  Donegal,"  pp.  36,  37.  49  See   the   Bollandists'    "Acta    Sancto- 

45  The   large   folio   vellum    MS.    in    the  rum,"  tomus  i.,  Februarii  die  i.     Vita  iii. 
R.I.  A.,  No.  40,  b,  known  as  the  "  Leabhar  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  i.,  sec.  6,  p.  142. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  175 


the  church,  at  another  time,  a  multitude  of  poor  persons  came  to  her  asking 
for  food.  Among  the  rest,  she  saw  a  boy,  who  was  deaf,  dumb  and  lame. 
At  a  word,  spoken  by  the  compassionate  virgin,  he  felt  relieved  from  his 
three  several  privations,  to  the  great  admiration  of  a  multitude  present.50  A 
woman,  greatly  prostrated  with  dropsy,  besought  the  charity  of  our  saint,  to 
relieve  her  from  this  distressing  infirmity.  Drigid  made  a  sign  of  the  cross 
OUT  her;  the  swelling  immediately  decreased,  and  the  patient  was  restored 
to  a  ]  jrfectly  sound  state  of  health.51 

Like  that  peerless  Mother  of  our  Lord,  to  whom  she  has  been  compared, 
Brigid  was  beautiful  with  the  beauty  of  Heaven  and  earth  mingled  together, 
with  eyes  sweet  and  dove-like,  and  with  a  countenance  most  soft  and  pure. 
She  was  both  lovely  to  see,  as  well  as  perfect,  in  heart  and  in  soul.52  Nor 
did  the  lapse  of  years  steal  away  any  single  grace  or  charm,  for  her  heart  and 
feelings  were  ever  freshened  with  religious  inspiration.  The  biographers  of 
this  illustrious  saint  are  unmeasured  in  terms,  used  to  describe  her  virtues 
and  merits  ;  but,  they  do  not  exaggerate  her  praises,  however  they  may  dilate 
on  various  miracles,  attributed  to  her  powerful  intercession.  We  are  told, 
how  this  wondrous  pearl  of  virginity  neither  deflected  to  the  right  or  left,  but 
always  pursued  a  just  and  virtuous  course.  She  never  spoke  without  blushing, 
a  sign  of  her  great  modesty. 5J  She  never  yielded  to  carnal  illusions  ;  for  no 
person  could  be  more  chaste  and  continent.54  She  considered  her  prestige 
and  virtues  to  have  been  gifts  coming  from  Divine  Providence.  She  examined 
her  acquirements  and  merits,  according  to  those  severe  judgments,  pro 
nounced  by  a  mind,  filled  with  prudence  and  true  faith  ;  while,  she  took  little 
heed  of  popular  applause  or  llattery.  She  considered  ill-regulated  public 
opinion  and  mere  human  praise,  as  tending  only  to  produce  vanity  and 
selfishness,  or  as  savouring  of  a  worldly  spirit.  Her  whole  desires  consisted 
in  not  appearing  to  be  holy,  while  she  aspired  to  the  most  exalted  degree  of 
sanctity.  And,  as  lirigid  ever  willed  a  most  perfect  conformity  to  the  decrees 
of  Heaven,  so  did  Divine  mercy  bestow  on  her  countless  treasures  of  grace; 
for,  according  to  Holy  Scripture,  to  every  one  possessing  them  shall  yet  be 
given,  and  they  shall  abound,  while  to  those  wanting  them,  what  they  seem 
to  possess  shall  be  taken  away.55  So  excellent  did  lirigid  appear  in  the  sight 


-•"  See  //'/</.,  sec.  8.  Nivem  per  tempestatem  agitat  ventus  : 

51  See    Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Glinndalachae  sustinuit  crucem  ; 

Vita  Sexta  S.  Brigidrc,  sees,  vi.,  viii.,  xxix.,  Ita  ut  repererit  requiem   post   tribula- 

pp.  vSj,  S^S-     Two  additional  miracles,  for  tiones." — Sec.  xi.,  ibid. 

which  1  do  not  find  a  corresponding  autho 
rity,  are  thus  related  in  Vita   I'rima  S.  Jki-       Colgau  observes,  in  a  note,  as  St.  Coemgen 
gidoj,  sees,   xiii.,   xlii.,    pp.    515,   516,    517,       died  A.I >.  617,  according  to  the  "  Annals  of 

the  Four  Masters,"  that  it  should  follow, 
matters  here  related  concerning  him  must 
have  happened  before  his  death.  See  n.  6, 
p.  518,  ibid. 

s-'  See   that   most  elegantly  illuminated, 
exquisitely  written,    and   devout  narrative, 
by  a    gifted    lady,    intituled,    "Prince   and 
"  Tradidit  liquorem  sen  lae  cuidam  rustico,         Saviour  :  the  story  of  Jesus  simply  told  for 
Quando  erat  nece.se,  the   Young,"  by  Rosa  Mulholland,  pp.    13, 

Lt  repertum  est  nee  crescere  14-     New  and  enlarged  edition.     Dublin  : 

Nee  quidquam  diminui."  M'Glashan  and  Gill,  1876,  I2rno. 

53  See  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

In   the   same   tract,   we   find   the  following       St.  Brigid,  pp.  41,  42. 
lines,  which  do  not  admit  of  easy  explana-  54  See  ibid.     This  Life  also  remarks,  that 

j.jon  . she  never  washed  her  hands,  or  her  feet,  or 

her  head  in  the  presence  of  men. 
"  Accesserat  ad  prtelium  Coemginus  Celebris  55  St.  Matt,  xxv.,  29. 


Tern  pore  verno  in  curru  vimmeo, 


Nihil  diminuit  de  prosperitate  hospitis, 


i76 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


of  God,  that  He  was  pleased  to  manifest  her  sanctity  by  the  performance  of 
most  renowned  miracles.56  These  are  abundantly  instanced,  throughout  her 
acts.  Whenever  liberality  is  hoped  for,  it  will  usually  be  fully  tested  ;  and, 
an  opinion  of  unrestricted  and  active  charity  must  inevitably  draw  together 
needy  and  afflicted,  towards  benevolently-disposed  persons.  Hence,  it 
happened,  that  so  many  poor  and  infirm  individuals  flocked  to  St.  Brigid, 
not  only  from  her  own  locality,  but  from  most  distant  places.  Those  were 
allured  by  a  report  of  her  virtues  and  charities,  while,  the)  hoped  relief  under 
privation  from  their  various  distresses.  When  our  saint  had  satisfied  the 
wants  of  one  pauper,  she  was  ready  to  perform  a  like  charitable  office  for  a 
petitioner  succeeding  ;  while  the  same  generous  disposition  was  manifested 
towards  all,  without  personal  favour  or  exception.  However  her  bounty  had 
been  extended  to  the  whole  flock,  notwithstanding  her  charity  was  still 
moderated,  according  to  various  necessities  ;  she  gave  abundantly  to  those 
most  in  need,  more  restrictedly  to  those  in  middling  circumstances,  and  a 
little  was  only  distributed  to  those  needing  little.  Yet,  no  gift  of  hers  could 
be  considered  small,  when  her  hands  administered  relief,  and  her  warm  heart 
became  the  prompter  of  her  largesses. "  Again,  she  was  very  humble,  and 
she  attended  or  was  accustomed  to  the  herding  of  sheep,  as  an  occupation, 
and  to  early  rising,58  as  conducive  to  health.  This  her  life  proves,  and 
Cuimin  of  Coindeire  states,  in  his  poem,5^  referring  to  her  great  perfections. 
She  spent  indeed  many  years,  diligently  serving  the  Lord,  performing  signs 
and  miracles,  curing  every  disease  and  sickness.  Her  vigils  were  incessant, 
and  she  watched  over  those  subjects  committed  to  her  charge,  with  extra 
ordinary  care  and  tenderness.  Her  numerous  miracles  are  compared  to  the 
grass  of  the  field,  because  it  grows  in  such  abundance,  by  one  of  her  many 
eulogists.  Those  wonders,  recorded  in  her  various  Acts,  would  seem  to 
confirm  such  a  statement.60  She  is  specially  ranked  among  the  friends61  and 


56  See   "  Brcviarium  Romanum."      Pars 
Hiemalis.     Officia  Propria  Hibcrnioe  Sanc 
torum,  qu:e  a   Clero   Hibernico  recitantur. 
Die   i.    Februarii.      Officium   S.    Brigidce. 
Noel.  sec.  led.  vi. 

57  See  Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Vila  Quinta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xxxviii.,  liii., 
pp.  576,  580.     In  Ihe  Latin  version  of  Ihe 
Vila  Prima  S.  Brigidoe,  sees,  v.,   vi.,   vii., 
p.  515)  her  panegyric  is  thus  pronounced  : — • 

"  Xon  erat  cum  hospitibus  aspera  : 

Benigne  tractabat  leprosos  miseros, 
In  campo  extruxil  suam  civitalem, 
Posl   obituin   patrocinatur  multitudini 
populorum. 

"  Non  erat  armentaria  montana  : 
Nala  esl  in  inedio  campo  ; 
Bona  est  scala  populis, 
Ad  intrandum  in  regnum  filii  Marine. 

' '  Praclara  erat  congregatio  Brigidse  : 

Praeclarus  concenlus  Placentinus,  quern 

canebat. 

Circa  solum  Christum  erat  solicita  : 
Res   ha?c    erat    competens    advenien- 

tibus." 

'^  "See  Mac  Firbiss'  List  of  Bishops'  Sees, 
&c.,  voce  Cuil  Corra."  This  jotling  is  in  a 
nole,  appended  lo  Ihis  passage,  in  \Vm.  M. 


Hennessy's  copy  of  the  Donegal  Martyrology, 
most  obligingly  lent  to  the  writer,  by  its 
learned  owner. 

59  This  begins  with  "  Patrick  of  the  fort 
of  Macha  loved,"  &c.     Thus  he  says  : — 

"  The  blessed  Brighit  loved 
Constant    piety,     which    was    not    pre 
scribed  ; 

Sheep  herding  and  early  rising — 
Hospitality  towards  men  of  virtues." 

60  See  the   "Martyrology  of  Donegal," 
at  the  1st  of  February.     Vita  S.  Brendani. 
St.  Cumineus  of  Conor,  in  his  poem,  "  On 
the  Characteristic  Virtues  of  Irish  Saints," 
as  translated  into  English,  says  : — 

"  Bridget  of  the  benedictions  loved 
Perpetual  mollification   beyond  woman 
hood. 

Watching  and  early  rising, 
Hospitalily  to  saintly  men/' 

See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "  Ap 
pendix  Quartaad  Acla  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  xii., 
p.  622,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Kelly's  "  Calendar  of 
Irish  Saints,"  p.  161.  A  somewhat  different 
Latin  translation  is  given  for  the  foregoing 
lines,  by  Colgan,  at  p.  606  of  "Trias  Thau 
maturga." 

61  See  "  Breviarium  Romanum."      Pars 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  1?7 


disciples*  of  our  great  Irish  Apostle,  St.  Patrick;  and,  among  his  numerous 
5    daughters,   not    one   was   more   distinguished   for   great  force  of 
:er,  for  high  intellectual  accomplishments,  and  for  sublime  spiritual 
guts. 


C  II  A  P  T  E  R     X I  V. 

VISION    OF   ST.    BRIGID    REGARDING    HER    APPROACHING    DEATH— HER    PREPARATION— 
•ISTERS    THE    LAST    SACRAMENTS    TO    HER— THE   YEAR   AND    DAY 

OF  ST.  BRIGID'S  DEPARTURE-THE  PLACE  WHERE  IT  OCCURRED— KILDARE  AND 
IIS  RELIGIOUS  FOUNDATIONS— ST.  BKIGII/S  SHRINE  AND  RELICS-HONOUR  PAID 
TO  HER  MEMORY. 

WE  are  informed,  St.  Brigid  had  a  revelation,  four  years  before  her  death 

time  for  her  departure  out  of  this  world  was  approaching,  and   that 

she  also  had  a  prophetic  knowledge,  respecting  the  place  of  her  resurrection.1 

This  intuition  was  to  her  a  source  of  joy.     She  had  now  attained  a  venerable 

Accordingly,  she  prepared  for  her  approaching  end,  by  redoubling 

avers,  watchings,  fastings  and  charities.  Although  her  remote  preparation 
for  death  had  commenced,  at  a  very  early  period,  by  the  practice  of  virtue 
;  ;  yet,  towards  the  close  of  life,  as  if  all  she  had  hitherto  done 
were  of  no  account,  in  her  estimation,  she  became  devoted  almost  uninter 
ruptedly  to  heavenly  aspirations  and  contemplation.  To  her  mind  and  to  her 
memory,  often  recurred  this  thought,  that  a  life-time  spent  in  pious  preparation 
gave  a  suitable  guarantee  for  a  holy  death.  She  endeavoured  to  watch  care 
fully,  during  her  journey  through  life,  that  she  might  not  be  confounded  by  her 
spiritual  enemies,  when  touching  the  portals  of  death.  Nor  was  her  solicitude 
confined  to  her  own  spiritual  interests.  Being  bound  to  render  an  account  for 
those  religious  females  entrusted  to  her  charge,  she  was  vigilant  in  her  official 
position.  This  was  manifested,  by  her  unceasing  solicitude  and  through  her 
frequent  exhortations.  Her  prayers  had  a  retrospective  and  a  prospective 
aim,  on  behalf  of  those  dear  sisters,  who  were  to  remain  behind  in  this  world 
of  pilgrimage.  While  in  the  flesh,  she  loved  them,  not  according  to  the 
maxims  or  practice  of  worldlings,  but  in  a  religious  and  holy  spirit.3 

Having  regulated  the  religious  state  of  her  city  and  nunnery,  as  also  of 
various  establishments,  subject  to  her  rule,  throughout  Ireland;*  we  are 
told,  in  her  Fourth  Life,  that  she  expressed  to  her  sisters  a  desire  to  visit 
before  death  the  sepulchre  and  relics  of  her  holy  patron,  Archbishop 
Patrick.  Brigid  knew,  also,  it  relates,  that  she  should  not  return  alive  to  the 


Hicmalis.  Officia  Propria  Ilibernirc  Sane-  Also,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigids;,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
torum,  quoe  a  Clero  Hibernico  recitantur.  xcviii.,  xcix.,  p.  562,  ibid. 
Die  I.  Februarii.  Officium  S.  Brigid;).-.  *  From  the  words  of  her  Fourth  Life, 
Noct  sec.  lect.  vi:  Cc!gan  infers,  that  St.  Brigid  wrote  a  special 
'=  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga."  rule  and  founded  a  particular  institute  for 
Quinta  Appendix  ad  Acta  S.  Patricii,  cap.  holy  women  ;  otherwise,  he  does  not  think 
xxiii.,  p.  269.  Yet,  only  in  a  mediate  or  it  likely,  that  various  houses  could  be  re- 
remote  sense  must  we  regard  her,  as  having  presented,  as  being  subject  to  her  care, 
been  one  of  those  virgins,  veiled  by  St.  This  position  he  endeavours  to  establish,  by 
Patrick.  citing  various  authorities.  See  ibid.,  Ap- 

CHAPTER  xiv.— '  See  "The  Life  of  St.  pcndix  Tertia  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidrc,  cap.  ii., 

Brigid,"   by  an  Irish   Priest,  chap,  x.,  p.  p.  610.     And,  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidce,  n. 

I33-  23,  p.  566.  See,  also,  the  Bollandists'  "  Acta 

;  See     Bishop    Challoncr's     "Britannia  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.      Die   i.    Februarii. 

Sancta,"  part  i.,  February  1st,  p.  94.  Vita  iv.  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xii.,  sect. 

3  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  Si,  p.  171. 
Vita  Quinta  S.  Brigidte,  cap.  Ivi.,  p.   581. 

N 


i7S  LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


usual  city  of  her  residence.  It  is  said,  St.  Patrick,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
had  commanded  our  saint  to  bless  all  Ireland,  thirty  years  afterwards,  and 
that  in  consequence  of  this  desire,  she  now  made  a  tour  over  the  whole 
island,  blessing  every  part  of  it.s  Having  arrived  in  the  province  of  the 
Ultonians,6  in  the  northern  part  of  Ireland,  she  was  there  seized,  it  is  stated, 
with  her  last  illness.  It  is  generally  believed,  that  she  died  thirty  years  after 
the  departure  of  St.  Patrick.? 

St.  Conleath,  Bishop  of  Kildare,  departed  this  life  on  the  3rd  of  May, 
519  ;8  and,  St.  Brigid  did  not  long  survive  him. 9  She  was  already  descending 
the  vale  of  years,  and  infirmity  began  to  grow  upon  her ;  although,  we  are  not 
given  to  understand,  what  had  been  the  nature  of  that  sickness,  which  caused 
her  death.  At  its  approach,  however,  she  had  a  conference  with  one  of  her 
nuns,  named  Darlugdacha,  to  whom  she  confided  a  charge  over  her  com 
munity,  after  the  event  of  her  own  expected  departure.10  St.  Bridget  also 
declared  her  successor  should  survive  only  one  year,  and  depart  this  life  on 
the  ist  of  February  ;  so  that  thus,  both  their  names  should  be  venerated,  on 
this  same  day.11  Therefore,  as  they  were  united  in  affection  during  life,  in 
like  measure,  after  death,  their  memories  were  conjointly  held  in  honour.  It 
would  seem  beyond  the  power  of  tongue  or  pen.  to  describe  the  wonders  of 
Brigid's  daily  existence.  Many  miracles  and  incidents  already  recorded, 
concerning  this  holy  abbess,  and  several  not  mentioned  in  this  her  life,  will 
be  found  in  the  Acts  of  various  other  Irish  saints.12 

She  was  now  about  to  cease  from  her  toils  and  to  enjoy  everlasting  rest ; 
but,  whether  decay  or  decrepitude,  awaited  her  closing  years,  seems  to  be  alto 
gether  unknown.^  When  the  last  day  of  our  most  illustrious  and  holy  virgin 
in  this  life  had  approached,  and  after  a  long  pilgrimage,  Brigid  was  beckoned 
to  her  reward.  Then,  while  sailing  on  the  British  sea,1*  by  force  of  the  wands, 
or  rather  by  God's  providence,  St.  Ninnid  was  wafted  to  the  Irish  coast.  l= 


5  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  Life,  by  St.  Evin  (pars  iii.,  cap.  4,  6),  Life 
Santita  Prodigiosa."      Vita  cli    S.   Brigida  of  St.  Moninna  or  Moduenna  (cap.  3),  Cap- 
Ibernese.     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  583,  584.  grave's  Life  of  the  same  Saint  (cap.  14),  Life 

6  This  is  Latinized  Ultonia  and   Ulidia.  of  St.  Albeus,  Cod.  Kilk.  (cap.  23),  another 
In  Irish  it  is  written  UlcA,  ULuAig,  and  Life  of  the  same  Saint  (cap.  18,  19),  Life  of 
llL<Mt).  St.  Finnian  of  Clonard  (cap.  15),  Life  of  St. 

7  See   Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."  Tighernach  (cap.  2,  10),  O'Donnell's  Life  of 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcix.,  St.  Columkille  (lib.  i.,  cap.  9),^  Supplement 
p    1-52.  to  the  Life  of  St.  Kieran  of  Clonmacnoise 

'*  The  Annales  Ultonienses  record,  at  A.  i>.  (cap.  26),  Life  of  St.  Gildas  (cap.  9),  Life  of 

519,  the  death  of  Conlaed,  Bishop  of  Cille  St.  Brendan,  Cod.  Kilk.   (cap.   50),  Life  of 

dara,  p.  13.     See  Dr.  O'Conor's   "  Rerum  St.  Aid,  bishop  (cap.    16,  20),  Life  of  St. 

Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.  Maidoc  (cap.  62),  Life  of  St.  Moling  (cap. 

9  See   "The  Lite  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an  22),  Life  of  St.  Kieran,  of  Saigir  (cap.  30), 
Irish  Priest,  chap,  x.,  p.  134.     '  Life  of  St.  Kieran,  of  Clonmacnoise  (cap. 

10  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "  La  i.,  47),  Life  of  St.  Columba  (cap.  4,  5,  66, 
Santita   Prodigiosa."     Vita   di    S.   Brigida  241),  Life  of  St.  Moelruan   (cap.  42),  Life 
Ibernese.     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  559  to  561.  of  St.  Corbmac  (cap.  9),  Life  of  St.  Fintan, 

11  See   Colgan's   "  Acta   Sanctorum   Hi-  hermit  (i 5th  Nov.)     See  "  Trias  Thauma- 
berniee,"  Februarii  I.  Vita  S.  Derlugdachte,  turga,"  sees.  i.  to  xxii.,  pp.  602  to  606. 

p.  230.      Also,  the  Acts  of  St.  Derlugdacha  ^  See  "  The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,"  by  an 

hereafter  subjoined,  and  on  the  1st  of  Febru-  Irish  Priest,  chap,  x.,  pp.  133,  134. 

arv  I4  In  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

"  These  are  introduced  by  Colgan  in  his  St.  Brigid  flin-oex>  IAHVI  it>An,  i.e.,  "  Nin- 

"  Appendix   Secunda,    sen    Supplementum  didh  of  the  undefiled  hand,"  is  said  to  have 

Actorum  S.  Brigidce,  ex  aliorum  Sanctorum  come  from  Rome  of  Letha,  pp.  47,  48. 

vitis  fcaliishystoriis."  He  quotes  the  Fourth  I5  See  Abbate  D.  Giacomo  Certani's  "La 

Life  of  St.  Patrick,  by  St.  Eleran,  the  sup-  Santita  Prodigiosa."      Vita  di   S.    Brigida 

posed  author  (cap.  94),  the  Sixth,  by  Jocelin  Ibernese.     Libro  Sesto,  pp.  584  to  566. 
(cap.   94,   95,    188,   189).      The  Tripartite 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


179 


Afterwards  a  large  fish  was  caught,  and  brought  to  him.  When  it  had  been 
cut  up  into  parts,  according  to  the  legend  of  his  life,  that  key  belonging  to 
the  leek  of  his  manacled  hand  was  found  within  its  body.  Finding  all  these 
events  to  have  happened  by  Divine  appointment,  with  sorrow  of  heart  the 
pious  Ninnidius  said  :  "  It  is  not  meet,  that  a  mortal  should  any  longer 
oppose  designs  of  the  living  God,  and  of  Omnipotent  power."  Hearin^ 
about  St.  Brigid's  infirmity,  he  went  to  visit  her ;  and,  at  the  hour  of  her 
she  had  already  predicted,  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Son  of  the  Eternal  God,  she  received  from  the  undefiled  hand 
of  holy  Ninnidius.16 

There  are  many  different  opinions  of  writers,  as  to  St.  Brigid's  exact  age, 
at.  the  time  of  her  demise.  Henry  of  Marlborough'7  tells  us,  that  she  A°as 
born  A.D.  468,  and  that  she  died  on  the  ist  of  February,  A.D.  523.  Conse 
quently,  she  could  only  have  been  fifty-five  years  old,  at  her  decease.  But, 
no  other  writer  sets  her  age  down  at  less  than  seventy  years,  when  she  died.lS 
Ihis  latter  seems  to  be  the  most  generally  received  opinion.  Our  Martyro- 
logies's  and  Annals20  concur.  The  seventy-first21  and  the  seventy-fourth  year 
for  her  death-period  have  been  stated.  Thus,  the  "  Martyrology  of  Donegal"22 
has  noticed,  that  she  yielded  her  spirit,  after  having  completed  seventy-four 
years,  A.D.  S25-~3  The  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life  has  regarded  her 
death,  as  occurring,  thirty  years  after  that  of  St.  Patrick,2*  and  in  the  eightieth 
year  ot  her  age.2^  Colgan,  too,  thinks  this  probable,  on  account  of  the  latter 
authority  being  so  ancient  and  so  respectable.  She  is  even  conjectured — 
but  without  correctness  — to  have  attained  her  eighty-seventh  year.26 


16  See    Colgan's    "Trias   Thaumaturga." 
Quarta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  lib.  li.,  cap.  Ixiii., 
P-  559-   Also,  Quinta  Vita  S.  Bri<'id£C.  cap. 

....  o  o 

Ivm.,  p.  582. 

17  In  his  Annals.     This,  however,  is  not 
to  be  found  in  his  "Chronicle  of  Ireland," 
published  in  1809  at  Dublin,  by  the   Iliber- 
nia  Pros  Company. 

lr'  This  is  the  opinion  of  Usshcr  in  his 
"  Primordia  Ecclesiarum  Britannicarum," 
cap.  xvii.,  p.  884,  and  in  his  "Index 
Chronologicus,"  A.D.  523,  as  also  of  Sir 
James  Ware,  "  De  Scriptoribus  Ilibernia?," 
lib.  i.,  cap.  ii.,  p.  9. 

13  The  "Martyrology  of  Tallagli,"  com 
piled  by  St.  /Engus  and  St.  Maelruan,  in 
the  ninth  century,  has  this  record:  "  Ca- 
lendis  Februarii.  Dormitio  S.  Brigidcc, 
Ixx.,  anno  cetatis  SU.TE."  See  Rev.  Dr. 
Kelly's  edition,  p.  xiv. 

-°  The  Annals  of  Ulster,  or  of  Senat  Mac 
Mognus,  cited  by  Ussher,  agree,  where  at 
A.D.  523,  we  read:  "  Quies  S.  Brigidte 
anno  Ixx.  tetatis  sure."  This  is  also  Colgan's 
own  opinion.  See  Annales  Ultonienses, 
p.  3.  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv. 

21  According  to  the  computation  of  Friar 
Clyn,  that  she  was  born  A.D.  439,  and   of 
Hanmer,  that  she  died   A.D.  510,  she  must 
have  departed  in  her  seventy-lirst  year. 

22  See  Rev.  Drs.  Todd's  and  Reeves'  edi 
tion,  pp.  36,  37. 

23  In  a  comment,  Dr.  Todd  adds  at  this 
date,  A.D.  525  :  "  The  more  recent  hand  has 
corrected  this  date  to  522,  adding  in  the 
margin,  this  note  :  '  ex  ii.  binario  numero 


fecit  quinariam  literam  transcriptoris  error  ;' 
i.e.,  the  transcriber  mistook  dxxii.  for 
dxxu." 

-•*  This  story,  about  such  a  term  of  years 
intervening  between  the  deaths  of  the  two 
saints,  has  been  taken  from  that  spurious 
tract,  called  St.  Patrick's  Testament,  in 
which  we  find  the  favourite  division  of  our 
Apostle's  years  into  thirties.  To  these  was 
added  another  thirty,  at  the  end  of  which 
St.  Brigid  was  to  bless  Ireland.  Hence,  it 
got  into  ,hc  Fourth  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  and 
it  became  popular.  Marianas  Scotus,  hav 
ing  assigned  St.  Patrick's  death  to  A.D.  491, 
placed,  agreeably  to  this  supposition,  that  of 
St.  Brigid  in  521  ;  while,  the  sticklers  for 
A.D.  493,  following  the  same  principle,  fixed 
it  at  A.  D.  523.  One  of  these  was  Bollandus, 
when  commenting  on  the  Acts  of  St.  Brigid  ; 
but,  his  successors,  Henschennius  and  Pape- 
brochius,  rejected  these  thirty  years,  and 
made  out  another  calculation.  This, however, 
cannot  be  admitted  ;  for,  in  their  observations 
on  ot.  Patrick's  Acts,  they  assign  St.  Brigid's 
departure  to  A.D.  506  or  517.  See  Dr. 
Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ire 
land,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  vi.,  n.  87,  p. 
457- 

-'5  For  this  statement,  there  appears  to  be 
little  probability.  Yet,  an  Irish  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  concurs  in  the  previous  calculations. 

20  At  the  year  523,  we  find  entered  in 
William  M.  Hennessy's  "Chronicum  Sco- 
torum,"  the  Dormition  of  St.  Brigid  in  the 
87th  year  of  her  age,  or  fjth  as  some  assert, 
pp.  40,  41. 


iSo 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


The  year  or  epoch  of  St.  Brigid's  death  has  been  variedly  calculated  or 
recorded.  Thus  the  "  Annals  of  Boyle"  have  it  so  early  as  A.D.  504.^  Dr. 
Meredith  Hanmer  says  her  death  occurred,  A.D.  5io.2S  The  rest  of  St.  Brigid 
is  noted  at  514,  in  the  Annals  of  Innisfallen.2?  Other  authorities  place  it,  at 
A.D.  518.3°  PYom  a  calculation  which  he  makes,  as  to  the  year  of  St.  Patrick's 
death,  being  458,  and  St.  Brigid's  decease  taking  place  sixty  years  afterwards, 
Nennius  would  consequently  assign  her  departure,  to  the  year  5i8.31  Again, 
the  year  520  has  been  mentioned.32  The  year  521  is  set  down  by  certain 
writers.33  The  year  523,  however,  is  a  very  generally  accepted  date  for  her 
demise.3*  Thus,  Colgan  endeavours  to  show  by  various  authorities,  compu 
tations  and  inferences,  that  A.D.  523,  was  the  true  date  for  her  death.35  These 
dates,  A.D.  506  and  517,  appear  to  have  been  given,  from  a  supposition,  that 
St.  Brigid  survived  St.  Patrick  exactly  thirty  years  ;^6  and,  as  the  year  of  the 
Irish  Apostle's  death  has  been  disputed,  in  like  manner,  differences  as  to  com 
puted  dates  for  St.  Brigid's  have  consequently  occurred. 3?  The  year  523  or  524 
is  entered  in  the  '-'Annals  of  Ulster."38  These,  also,  go  by  the  title,  "Annals 
of  Senat-mac-Magnus,"  and  are  cited  by  Ussher.3?  Moreover,  the  "  Annals 


-7  See  "  Annales  Buelliani,"  or  "  Annals 
of  Boyle."  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiber- 
nicarum  Scriptores, "  tomus  ii.,  p.  3. 

28  See    "Chronicle   of   Ireland,"   p.    91. 
Still  Colgan  thinks,  the  year    518    should 
have  been  inserted  in  Hanmer's  work,  but 
for  a  casual  error. 

29  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "  Rerum  Hiberni- 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  ii.,  p.  5. 

3°  Thus,  Sigbert  in  his  "Chronology," 
Felix  in  his  "  Martyrology,"  at  1st  February, 
John  Capgrave  in  his  "Vita  S.  Brigidre,"  cap. 
ult.,  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  in  "  Topographia 
Hibernica,"  dist.  iii. ,  cap.  17,  "Annales 
Vawerliensis,"  &c.,  date  her  demise. 

31  Yet,  Dr.  Lanigan  does  not  consider  458 
to  have  been  the  true  date  for  St.  Patrick's 
death  ;  and,  as  the  antecedent  is  false,  so 
must  be  the  consequent,  viz.,  that  St.  Brigid 
died  A.D.  518.     See  "Ecclesiastical  History 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  i. ,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  vi.,  and 
n.  84,  pp.  455>  457- 

32  The   "  Chronicon  Rudimentum  Novi- 
tiorum,"  at  A.D.  520,  has  noted  St.  Brigid's 
death.      It  states,  during  the  second  year  of 
the  Emperor  Justin,  that  our  saint  died  in 
Scotia,  being  born  there,  and  of  noble  pa 
rents. 

33  Thus,  Marianus    Scotus,   Florence    of 
Worcester,  Baronius,  Masseus,  Spondanus, 
Gordon,   Rosweyde,  Mirfeus,   Ware.      The 
"Annales  Cambrice,"  edited  by  Rev.  John 
Williams  ab  Ithel,  concur,  p.  3. 

34  Ussher,  Colgan  and  Bollandus  prefer  it. 
See,  also,  Rev.  Thomas  Innes'  "  Civil  and 
Ecclesiastical  History  of  Scotland,"  book  ii., 
p.  128. 

35  He  prefers  this,   for  various    reasons. 
First,  Henry  of  Marlborough,  Ussher,  Ware, 
&c.,  are  of  accord  regarding  it.     And,  St. 
Brigid  lived  thirty  years  after  St.  Patrick's 
death  ;    accordingly,   St.   Patrick,   dying  in 
591 — but  as  Colgan  thinks  593  was  the  true 
year  of  his  decease — this  latter  conclusion 
should  place  the  death  of  St.  Brigid  at  A.D. 


523.  Secondly,  According  to  different  au 
thorities,  St.  Columkille  was  born  four  years 
before  St.  Brigid's  death.  As  the  former  is 
said  to  have  died  on  the  gth  of  June,  A.  D. 
596,  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
and  as  he  is  related  to  have  been  born  on 
the  7th  of  December,  St.  Columba's  nativity 
must  have  been  cast  about  the  end  of  A.D. 
519.  The  fourth  year  after  such  a  date  would 
be  A.D.  523,  and  consequently  that  assigned 
for  St.  Brigid's  death.  Thirdly,  According 
to  certain  Irish  tracts,  St.  Brigid  was  veiled 
and  died  on  Wednesday  ;  while,  all  autho 
rities  agree,  she  departed  this  life  on  the  1st 
of  February.  Now,  if  we  admit  her  being 
contemporaneous  with  the  Emperor  Justin, 
Pope  Hormisdas  and  Murchertach,  King  of 
Ireland,  the  1st  of  February  fell  on  Wednes 
day,  in  the  year  523.  The  hymn  in  praise 
of  St.  Brigid,  composed  by  St.  Brogan 
Cloen,  must  have  been  written  in  this  case 
soon  after  her  death  ;  for,  Alild,  son  of 
Dunlang,  reigned  in  Leinster,  when  it  was 
written.  This  prince  died  A.D.  526.  See 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix  Qu.irta 
ad  Acta  S.  Brigidas,  cap.  vii.,  p.  619.  The 
learned  Dr.  6'Conor  also  agrees  in  this 
opinion  with  Colgan,  in  his  edition  of  the 
"Annals  of  Ulster,"  n.  3,  p.  13.  "  Rerum 
Hibernicarum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv. 

s6  Thus,  Tillemont  justly  remarks,  that 
Henschennius  and  Papebrochius  have  not 
adduced  any  weighty  proof  for  these  dates. 
See  "  Memoires  pour  servir  a  1'Histoirc 
Ecclesiastique,"  tome  xvi.,  p.  470. 

s?  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His 
tory  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  sec.  ii., 
n.  25,  pp.  382,  383,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  vi.,  n. 
87,  p.  457. 

38  See  Dr.  O'Conor's  "Rerum  Hiberni 
carum  Scriptores,"  tomus  iv.,  p.  3.  At  A.D. 
523  is  noted,  likewise,  the  "  Bellum  Cainri 


. 

39  See  "  De  Primordia  Britannicarum  EC- 
clesiarum,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  884. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


of  the  Four  Masters,"  quoting  some  other  old  chronicles,  and  the  "Annals  of 
lster,';  referring  to  more  ancient   authorities,  have   A.D.    525  <°      Ussher 

observes,  that  some  books  referred  to  in  the  Ulster  Annals  mark  St.  Braid's 
death,  as  occurring  at  525,  which  date  has  been  followed  by  the  Four  Masters. 

This  latter  year  seems  to  agree  best,  with  what  Nennius  relates,  regarding  St 
Columkille's  birth,  which  took  place  four  years  before  St.  Brigid's  departure  *' 

I  he  "Annals  of  Ulster,"  citing  the  book  of  Mochod,  again  give  A.D.  527 
latest  mentioned  date  is  omitted  in  Colgan,  but  instead  of  it,  he  pro 
duces  the  same  authority,  noticing  "  Dormitio  S.  Brigida;  secundum  codicum 
monachorum,"  A.D.  528.    The  original  authority  seems  to  have  been  identical, 
in  both  the  latter  instances,  with  the  difference  of  a  date,  in  distinct  copies. 

The  English  Martyrology,  at  the  ist  of  February,  has  A.D.  540.  The  author 
of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life  enters  A.D.  548,  as  Colgan  thinks,  through  a  copyist's 
error,  and  from  the  mention  of  contemporaneous  persons.  With  the  angels, 
present  at  her  couch,  and  waiting  to  bear  her  soul  to  Paradise,  the  holy 
abbess  was  prepared  for  her  final  summons.*2  She  earnestly  desired  to  receive 
the  sacraments  for  the  dying.  Finding  her  final  hour  fast  approaching,  Holy 
Viaticum"  was  administered  to  her  by  an  attendant  priest,  named  Nennidh,** 
who  appears  to  have  been  attached  to  the  service  of  her  nunnery.*s  He  be 
longed  probably  to  the  clergy  residing  at  Kildare.*6  Muriertach  Mac  Ere,*? 
King  of  Ireland,  then  lived  at  Tara,  as  the  Fourth  Life  states.  Irish  historians 
state  this  monarch  to  have  died  in  the  year  527,  after  a  reign  of  twenty-four 
years.43  He  was  succeeded  in  the  sovereignly  of  Ireland  by  Tuathal  Mael- 
garbh,  who  was  slain— after  a  reign  of  eleven  years — in  the  year  538.  St. 
Urigid's  death  took  place,  it  is  noted,  during  the  first  year  of  the  Emperor 
Justinian's  reign.4?  Hormisdas  is  said  to  have  been  Pope  at  the  time,  and 
he  sat  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter,  from  A.D.  514  to  A.D.  523,2°  when  he  died.s1 


4<J  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's   "  Annals  of  the       582.      Cjuarta  Vita  S.  Brigidac,  lib.  ii.,  cap. 
Four  Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  170  to  173.  Ixiii.,  p.  559. 

1  See  "  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Anti-  4'J  See  Dr.  Lanigan's  "Ecclesiastical  His- 

quitates,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  467.  tory  cf  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  vi., 

4'  Applicable  to  the  calm  tranquillity  of      n.  82,  p.  456. 

that  departure  are  these  lines  by  the  Rev.  4?  Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 

M.  J.  Mac  Hale  intituled,  "By  the  Bedside,"       Masters,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  17410  177,  180,  181. 

as  found  in  "The  Illustrated  Monitor,"  vol.  48  A  very  curious  account,  regarding  this 

ii. ,  .No.  30.  p.  70  : —  monarch  and  his  family  connexions,  will  be 

"  Swiftly,  swiftly  no\v  the  soul  is  flying,  found  in  "  The  Irish  Version  of  the  Historia 

'  Dying,  dying,'  Britonum  of  Nennius,"  edited  by  Rev.  Dr. 

Are  the  words  the  watchers  speak,  James  Henthorn  Todd,  and  the  Hon.  Alger- 

While  the  shade  of  death  is  shading  non  Herbert,  pp.  178  to  193,  with  accom- 

All  the  patient  face,  and  fading  panying  notes. 

All  the  rose-tints  from  the  cheek.  4«  Justinian   began  his  reign  in  the  year 

Vet,  there  comes  no  sound  of  wailing,  527,  according  to  Baronius,  and  most  other 

No  blinding  burst  of  hopeless  grief;  authors.     Colgan  thinks  rather  the  name  of 

The  soul  is  calm,  if  strength  be  failing,  Justin,  who  began  to  reign  in  518,  should 

The  Lord  Himself  hath  sent  relief."  be  substituted  for  that  of  Justinian.       See 

43  See    Rev.    M.   J.    Brenan's    "  Ecclesi-  ':  Trias  Thaumaturga."      Vita    Quarta    S. 
astical  History  of  Ireland."     Fifth  Century,  Brigidae,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  xcix.,  p.  562. 

chap.  Hi.,  p.  51.  5°  Yet, in  William  M. Hcnnessy's" Chroni- 

44  See  Res'.  1'.  J.  C'arew's  "  Ecclesiastical  cum  Scotorum"  his  death  is  placed  at  A.D. 
History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  vi.,  p.  241.  520.     This,  however,  is  corrected  in  a.  note 

45  He  is  called  simply  vir  and  scicerdos  in  by  O'Flaherty  to  A.D.  523,  and  his  death  is 
the  Fifth  Life  of  St.   Brigid,  without  any  assigned  to  the  6th  of  August.     See  pp.  40, 
allusion  to  his  having  embraced  the  monastic  41,  and  n.  4,  ibid. 

profession.     In  the  Fourth  Life  of  our  Saint,  -1  Wherefore,  if  St.  Brigid  departed  during 

it  is  said,  he  went  to  Britain,  while  another  his  time,  she  must  have  died,  rather  during 

account  tells  us  he  journeyed  to  Rome.    See  the  first  year  of  the  Emperor  Justin's  reign, 

Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga."      Quinta  A.D.  518,  than  during  the  first  year  of  the 

Vita  S.  Brigidte,"  cap.  Ivii.,  Iviii.,  pp.  581,  Emperor  Justinian's  rule,  A.D.  527. 


132 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


It  has  been  stated,  likewise,  that  twice  six  Sovereign  Pontiffs  of  Rome  lived 
contemporaneously  with  St.  Brigid.52  This  statement,  however,  does  not 
seem  to  accord  with  exact  chronology.53  An  attempt  to  correct  it  hardly 
adjusts  the  inaccuracy.54  It  is  possible,  and  even  probable,  St.  Brigid  lived 
in  the  time  of  eight  successive  Popes,  supposing  her  to  have  died  A.D.  518 
or  523,  and  in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age.55  The  Fourth  Life  of  St. 
Brigid  unpardonably  asserts,  that  the  holy  abbess  died  A.D.  548.  This  date, 
if  not  the  error  of  a  scribe,  defers  her  death  to  nearly  the  middle  of  the  sixth 
century. 

Nearly  all  the  holy  woman's  Acts  are  concurrent,  that  the  illustrious 
Patroness  of  Ireland  departed  this  life  on  the  ist  of  February.56  It  is  an 
honoured  day  in  the  Irish  Church.5?  After  having  obtained  a  glorious  victory, 
over  the  powers  of  darkness  and  the  illusions  of  this  world,  she  now  reigns 
eternally  and  conspicuously  among  the  celestial  choirs  of  Heavenly  Jerusalem, 
with  the  Patriarchs  and  Prophets,  the  Apostles,  Martyrs,  and  spotless  Virgins, 
with  the  An<rels  and  Archangels  of  God.58  Crowned  with  a  diadem  of  effulgent 


52  It  is  set  down  in  these  lines  : — 

"  Illis  temporibus  bis  senos  legimus  esse 

Pontifices  summos  Roma  viventc  puella," 
See  Sexta  Vita  S.  Brigidae,  sec.  Ivi.,  p.  594. 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. " 

53  See    Berti's    "  Ecclesiastic*    Historic 
Breviarium,"    pars    i.       Quintum    Ecclesice 
Seculum,   cap.  i.,  pp.    131,    132.      Sextum 
Ecclesiae  Seculum,  cap.  i. ,  pp.  149,  150. 

54  Instead  of  the  words  "  bis  senos,"  Col- 
gan    thinks    we    should   read,    "Bis   ternos 
Pontifices."    For,  he  says,  St.  Brigid  died  in 
the  seventieth  year  uf  her  age,  according  to 
authorities,  cited  in  the  Fourth  Appendix  to 
her  Acts  (cap.  vii.),  or  in  the  eightieth  year 
of  her  age,  according  to  her  Fourth  Life 
(lib.  ii. ,  cap.  xcix. ),   and  other  authorities; 
which  latter  tract  Colgan  thinks  the  author 
of  her  Metrical  or  Sixth  Life  followed.     Ac 
cording  to  the  author  of  her  Fourth  Life 
and  others,  she  died  in  the  time  of  Pope 
Hormisdas,   and   in   the   first   year    of    the 
Emperor  Justin's  reign  (A.D.  518)  ;  or  more 
truly,  perhaps,  in  A.D.   523,  as   Colgan  en 
deavours  to  show,  in  the  Fourth  Appendix 
to  our  Saint's  Acts.     See  "  Trias  Thauma 
turga."     Sexta   Vita  S.  Brigiclre,  n.    15,   p. 
598.     Also,  Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S. 
Brigidre,  cap.  vii.,  p.  619. 

55  If  it  be  supposed,  that  she  died  in  the 
seventieth  year  of  her  age  and  A.D.  $18,  St. 
Brigid  must  have  been  born,  about  the  year 
of  Christ  449.     If  she  died  in  the  seventieth 
year  of  her  age,  and  A.D.  523,  she  should 
have  come  into  this  world,  about  the   year 
454.     In  either  case,  she  must  have  been 
born  during  the  Pontificate  of  St.  Leo  the 
Great.     But,  from  this  latter  Pontiff  to  the 
dates    518    or    523,    while   Hormisdas    was 
Pope,    including   both   of  these  Sovereign 
Pontiffs,  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter  sat  Leo, 
Hilary,    Simplicius,    Felix,    Gelasius,   Ana- 
stasius,  Symmachus,  and  Hormisdas — eight 
in  all ;  not  including  the  Anti-pope  Laurence, 
who  nourished  A.  D.  498.    But,  if  we  suppose 


St.  Brigid  to  have  died  in  the  eightieth  year 
of  her  age,  and  of  Christ  518,  as  the  authors 
of  her  Fourth  and  Sixth  Lives  seem  to  indi 
cate,  she  must  have  been  born,  about  A.D. 
439,  during  the  Pontificate  of  St.  Sixtus  III. 
This  Pontiff  sat  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter,  from 
432  to  440.  If  we  join  the  latter  to  the  other 
eight,  already  enumerated,  we  shall  have  the 
number  thrice  three  or  nine  Pontiffs,  reign 
ing,  during  St.  Brigid's  life-time  ;  and  fol 
lowing  the  last  computation.  Colgan  thinks 
the  emendation  he  makes  must  represent 
the  true  meaning  of  the  author  who  com 
posed  her  Sixth  Life.  He  followed  the 
writer  of  the  Fourth  Life.  If  this  latter 
were  Animosus'  work,  it  is  indicated  as  hav 
ing  been  read  in  the  Metrical  Prologue.  See 
ibid.,  n.  15,  p.  598. 

56  See  the  various  offices  of  our  saint.  The 
Roman  Breviary  of,  1522,  Petrus  de  Natali- 
bus,  and  "  Chronica  Generalis  Mundi," 
state,  that  St.  Brigid  flourished  during  the 
Emperor  Justin's  rule.  See  "The  Life  of 
St.  Brigid,"  by  an  Irish  Priest,  chap,  x.,  p. 

133- 

s?  "  Decessit  autem  venerabilis  Brigida 
prima  die  mensis  Februarii,  sure  benignitatis 
&  misericordiarum  remunerationem  in  per- 
petuum  possidens  Deum  :  Qui  in  imitate 
trinus,  £  unus  in  trinitate,  vivit  &  gaudet  & 
gloriatur,  ipse  quidem  vita  gaudium  &  gloria 
sanctorum  omnium,  per  omnia  scecula  saecu- 
lorum.  Amen."  Quinta  Vita  S.  Brigidse, 
cap.  Ivii.,  Iviii.,  pp.  581,  582.  Colgan's 
"  Trias  Thaumaturga."  This  great  feast  of 
St.  Brigid  appears  from  remote  times  to 
have  been  celebrated  with  solemn  public 
services  and  panegyrics  in  the  ancient  Irish 
churches.  See  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish 
Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  i  to  4,  49,  50. 

s8  After  having  given  the  day  of  our  saint's 
death,  at  February  i.,  Cogitosus  concludes 
his  Acts,  in  the  following  sentences  :  "  Ve- 
niam  peto  a  fratribus  et  lectoribus  qui  causa 
obedentise  coactus,nullapr?erogativa  scientias 
suffultus,  pelagus  immensum  virtutum  S. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID.  183 


glory,  and  rejoicing  in  the  possession  of  those  eternal  rewards,  she  had  so 
richly  merited  after  her  departure  from  earth  ;  she  beholds  for  ever  the  in 
effable  presence  of  the  Godhead,  unceasingly  and  effectually  interceding  for 
her  favoured  island,  and  for  her  devout  clients,  with  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost,  world  without  end.5^ 

An  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  and  also  the  ''Annals  of  Roscrea,'"  state,  that 
this  holy  woman  died  on  a  Wednesday.  It  has  been  remarked/0  that  the 
circumstance  of  our  saint's  decease  occurring  on  such  a  day,  if  true,  should 
bring  her  death  in  all  probability  into  A.D.  523.  The  ist  of  February  fell  on 
that  day,  during  this  year.61  It  has  been  added,  that  St.  Brigid  took  the 
veil,  also,  on  a  Wednesday,  and  building  on  this  notation,  which  Ussher  was 
either  ignorant  of,  or  overlooked,  Colgan  argues,  that  the  death  of  our  pious 
abbess  cannot  be  applied  to  any  year,  later  than  523.  This,  however,  rests 
on  a  passage,62  not  very  trustworthy,  as  found  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  St. 
Brigid.03  Yet,  Dr.  Lanigan  doubts  the  accuracy  of  this  relation,  which 
appears  to  have  been  an  imitation  of  certain  presumed  coincidences  in  St. 
Patrick's  Life  and  in  her  own  Acts.  Lie  thinks  A.D.  525,  a  still  more  pro 
bable  date  for  her  death,  than  523  ;  which  latter  year,  however,  he  says  is 
the  only  one  that  can  stand  any  competition  with  it.  But,  between  both 
these  dates,  he  leaves  the  reader  free  to  form  an  opinion.  Any  other  dates 
proposed,  he  deems  not  worthy  of  serious  consideration.6* 

The  place,  whence  our  holy  abbess  departed  to  her  true  country  and 
home,  has  been  diversely  represented.65  Lspecially  towards  the  closing  years 
of  her  life,  Kildare  was  the  permanent  place  for  her  residence,  and  the  almost 
unanimous  echo  of  tradition  declares  it  to  have  witnessed  her  exit  from  this 
world.  Our  historic  records  furnish  sufficient  evidence  in  attestation.  Not 
withstanding  a  contrary  assertion,  hazarded  by  the  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth 
Life,  that  she  died  in  the  northern  province  ;  this  mooted  question  hardly 
admits  of  controversy.66  Such  a  statement,  regarding  her  first  interment  at 


Brigida1,   ct   viris   fortissimis   formidandum,  See  Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."     Vita 

his  paucis  rustico  sermone  dictis  virtutilms  Ouarta  S.  BrigicUx-,  lib.  ii.,  cap.  99.  p.  562. 

de  maximis  ct  innumerabilibus  cucurrerim.  °4  See,  Dr.  Lanigan's  "  Ecclesiastical  His- 

Orate  pro  me  Cogitoso  ncpote  culpabili  ct  tory  of  Ireland,'''  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  vi., 

ut  oratione  vcstra  pio  Domino  me  commcn-  and  nn.   82,   83,  84,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89,  90, 

delis  exoro,  ct  Deus  vo>  pacem  Kvangelicam  91,  pp.  454  to  458. 

sectantcs,  exaudial."     Sec  Colgan's  "  Trias  5  No  reliance  is  to  be  placed  upon  Mere- 

Thaumaturga."     Secunda  Vila  S.  Brigid;e,  dith    Hanmer's    statement     regarding     St. 

cap.   xxxvi.',   p.    524.      See,    also,    Messing-  Brigid,  that  "  about  the  year  524  she  was 

ham's  "  Florilegium  Insuke  Sanctorum."  translated  from  the  Hebrides    into    Dune, 

53  Sec,   Colgan's    "Trias  Thaumaturga."  and  restelh  by  Saint  Patrick's  side,  as  for- 

Vita  Secunda  S.   Brigidip,  cap.   xxxvi.,  p.  merly  hath  beene  declared  in  his  Life.     Ire- 

524.     Vita  Tertia  S.  Brigidce,  cap.  cxxxi.,  land  hath  given  her  this  epitaph  :— 
p.  542.      Vita  Quarta  S.   Brigida',    lib.  ii., 

cap.  c.,  p.   563.     Vita  Quinta  S.   Brigida',  "  Flos  patrise  pietatis  amans,  virtutis  alum- 
cap.  Iviii.,  p.  582.  na, 

"°  By  Dr.  Lanigan.  Sidus  Ilibernorum,  Brigida  Virgo  fuit. 

61  See  "Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland,'' 

vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec.  vi.,  n.  88,  p.  457.  See,  "Chronicle  of  Ireland,"  p.  91. 

"\Vefindinitnothingbutconfusion.    St.  "According  to  Colgan,  it  is  probable, 

Brigid's  death  is  said,  also,  to  have  occurred,  the  bodies  of  these  saints  were  not  together 

during  the  reign  of  Justinian,  and  in  the  year  in  Down,  previous  to  A.D.  823.     Hence,  he 

548.     These  periods  are  very  different  from  infers,  that  neither  St.  Brogan,  nephew  to 

that  epoch  of  Hormisdas.    See  Ussher,  "  De  St.    Patrick,   on   the  sister's    side,   nor    St. 

Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Primordiis,"  cap.  Columkille,  who  died  in  597,  nor  St.  Ultan, 

xvii.,  p.  884.  who  departed  A.D.  656,  nor  St.  Aileran,  the 

"3  There  we  are  told,  she  died  during  the  Wise,  who  died  in  664,  could  have  been  the 

Pontificateof  Pope  Hormisdas,  and  therefore  author  of  St.  Brigid's  Fourth  Life,  for  rea- 

prior  to  the  month  of  August  in  said  year.  sons  which  ne  assigns. 


1 84 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Downpatrick,  appears  to  have  been  falsely  based,  on  a  subsequent  opinion 
about  her  remains  being  there,  with  those  of  St.  Patrick  and  St.  Columkille. 
It  must  have  been  entertained,  only  at  a  comparatively  recent  date.  Hence, 
originated  the  account,  presented  by  the  author  of  her  Fourth  Life,6?  that  she 
died  at  Downpatrick,  or  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood.63 

As  in  the  time  of  Crimthann,  Dunlaing  and  Illand,  so  under  successive 
princes  of  Leinster,  Kildare  continued  to  enjoy  ecclesiastical  immunities,  and 
to  rejoice  in  a  repetition  of  ecclesiastical  endowments. ^  To  the  beginning 
of  the  ninth  century,  it  was  in  an  exceedingly  flourishing  condition.  After 
this  period,  war,  rapine,  fare,  and  violence,  stain  the  annals  of  Kildare  ;7°  yet, 
learning  and  sanctity  were  not  wholly  banished  from  its  cloisters,  to  the 


The  Grey  Abbey,  Kildare. 

period  of   the  Anglo-Norman  invasion.      Even  after   stranger   lords   took 
possession  of  the  city  and  its  appurtenances,  two  fine  religious  foundations 


6?  Colgan  thinks  it  highly  probable,  that 
Animosus  was  the  author  of  this  Life,  rather 
than  any  other  anonymous  writer,  among 
the  many,  who  are  said  to  have  attempted 
St.  Brigid's  Acts,  especially  when  some  cir 
cumstances  seem  to  favour  the  inference, 
while  no  good  reason  establishes  a  contrary 
conclusion.  According  to  what  Colgan  him 
self  supposes,  the  incidents  of  name,  time 
and  place  should  tell  in  favour  of  Animosus 
or  Anmichod,  as  being  the  author,  and  that 
he  lived  after  A.D.  823,  and  before  1097. 
Colgan  has  not  been  able  to  detect  any  date, 
for  drawing  a  different  conclusion.  See 
"Trias  Thaumaturga."  Vita  Quarta  S. 
Brigidse,  n.  2,  p.  564. 

68  There  are  many  authors,  who  affirm 
that  St.  Brigid  had  been  interred  at  Down, 
in  the  first  instance  ;  but,  these  writers  rather 
belong  to  a  comparatively  modern  period. 


Among  others,  John  Brampton  and  Henry 
of  Marlborough,  in  their  Annals,  relate, 
that  her  remains  reposed  there  with  the 
bodies  of  Saints  Patrick  and  Columkille. 
At  the  year  1177,  Roger  Hovenden,  in  his 
Annals,  has  a  similar  statement.  Again, 
the  author  of  the  Annals  of  Glastonbury 
says  of  St.  Brigid,  that  having  returned  to 
Ireland,  she  rested  soon  afterwards  in 
the  Lord,  and  was  buried  in  the  city  of 
Down.  David  Roth,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  in 
his  Dissertation  on  St.  Brigid,  pp.  151,  I52> 
and  Ussher,  in  his  Index  Chronolgicus,  A.D. 
nxxm.,  and  "  De  Ecclesiarum  Britanni- 
carum  Primordiis,"  cap.  xvii.,  p.  888,  are 
of  accord,  on  this  latter  point. 

69  See  Rev.  Dr.  Todd's  "  St.  Patrick 
Apostle  of  Ireland."  Introduction,  pp. 
16  to  18. 

7°  See  an  interesting  summary  of  its  his- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  185 


were  effected  ;  since,  Lord  William  de  Vcsey,  A.D.  1260,  established  a  friary 
for  the  Franciscan  Order,  which  is  now  popularly  known  as  the  Grey  Abbey. 
It  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  town,  near  a  high  road,  and  surrounded 
by  an  extensive  and  a  crowded  graveyard,  covered  with  humble  graves  and 
having  several  head-stones  inscribed.  A  high  hawthorn-fence  separates  it 
from  the  road,  the  only  good  enclosure  surrounding  it.  A  farm-house  and 
Out-offices  are  at  one  side,  and  several  fine  ash-trees  are  thickly  interlaced,  to 
lend  some  adjoining  paddocks  shelter.  An  iron-gate  forms  an  entrance  from 
the  road,  but  the  off-fences  are  broken  down,  while  cattle  range  among  the 
graves  and  ruins.  These  latter  traces  of  the  fine  old  abbey  are  fast  crumb 
ling  away.  They  seem  to  indicate  two  chief  divisions  ;  namely,  the  Friary 
proper,  and  its  church,  in  immediate  proximity.  The  entire  length  of  the 
building  appears  to  have  been  35  yards,  from  east  to  west  ;  and,  S  yards  in 
width,  interiorly.  The  south  side-wall  is  much  broken  ;  the  north  side-wall 
at  the  church  portion  was  propped  by  four  buttresses,  apparently  built  to  give 
strength,  at  a  period  long  after  the  Church  had  been  quite  completed.  Six 
lancet-headed  windows  were  in  the  north  wall.  A  large  and  pointed  window 
occupied  the  east  gable.  A  long  vault,  extending  from  the  monastic  house 
northwards,  is  yet  traceable,  under  the  graves ;  while,  extending  southwards, 
on  the  offside,  are  some  fragments  of  foundations. ?'  These  appearances 
indicate,  that  the  plan  of  this  building,  at  one  time,  was  nearly  cruciform.?2 
Half  of  the  west  gable  is  entirely  gone."  In  the  year  1290,  William  de 
Vescy  built  a  house  for  Carmelites  or  White  Friars,  and  a  few  members  of 
this  order  yet  occupy  a  dwelling  standing  on  the  site. 

After  death,  our  saint's  relics  were  placed  on  one  side  of  the  altar  in  her 
church. 74  They  were  deposed  in  a  monument,  adorned  with  beautiful  work 
manship,  (lold  and  silver,  superimposed,  formed  artistic  decorations  for  her 
shrine,  as  also  for  that  of  St.  Conleath.?3  This  latter  tomb  occupied  a  posi 
tion  on  the  other  side  of  the  principal  altar.  Many  miracles  were  wrought 
before  the  shrine  of  our  holy  abbess,  after  her  death.?6  It  is  related,  that  on 
her  festival  day,  multitudes  flocked  to  Kildare  from  different  provinces  ;  some 
went  to  recover  health  through  her  intercession,  others  to  offer  gifts  at  her 
shrine,  while  some  attended  to  witness  magnificent  ceremonies  there  per 
formed.  Again,  others  were  induced  to  be  present  through  less  devotional 
and  more  worldly  motives."  In  such  convocations,  we  may  find  probably, 
a  prototype  of  the  later  "  patrons,"  or  "  patterns/'  so  common  in  other  parts 
of  the  country.  It  is  incorrectly  stated,?3  in  the  Fourth  Life  of  St.  Brigid, 
that  immediately  after  her  death,  she  was  buried  with  great  honour  and 
solemnity  in  the' same  tomb,  with  the  most  holy  Archbishop  Patrick.?"?  It  is 


lory,   iii   Archdall's  "  Monasticon   Hiberni-  »  Colgan  does  not  hesitate  in  his  opinion, 

cum,"  pp.  322  to  ^i.  l'lat  ^'-  Brigid  \vas  first  buried  at  Kildare. 

?l  The  accompanying  illustration,  engraved  Bollamlus  also  accords  on  this  point,  in  his 

by  George  A.  Hanlon,  fn>m  a  drawing  on  Commentarius  Praeviusad  Vitam  S.Brigidze. 

the  wood,  by  William   !•'.  Wakeman,   was  "  Ada  Sanctorum,"  tomus  i.    Die  i.  Febru- 

taken  as  a  sketch,  on  the  spot,  by  the  author,  arii,  sees,  vi.,  vii.,  pp.  106  to  108. 

December,  1875.  ?6  According  to  Professor  O  Looney  s  Irish 

7-'  Unless,    indeed,    the    vault    extending  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  pp.  47,  48. 

northwards  had  no  connexion  with  an  upper  ??  See  Cogitosus'  "Vita  S.  Bngidae,    cap. 

house,  and  had  been  intended  solely  for  in-  xiv.     This  account  sufficiently  refutes  a  sup- 

terments.  position,  offered  by  the  author  of  her  I-  ourth 

73  Some  fine  carved  stones  were  removed  Life,  that  our  saint  had  been  at  first  buried 
from  the  Grey  Abbey  many  years  ago,  and  in  Downpatrick. 

were  used  to  build  the  Chapel  of  Miltown,  ?8  See  Martin  Ilavcrty's  "  History  of  Ire- 
some  few  miles  from  Kildare.  land,"  chap,  ix.,  p.  So. 

74  See  Rev.  P.  J.  Carew's  "  Ecclesiastical  »  After  the  lirst  interment  ol    st.  lingid, 
History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  vi.,  p.  242.  at  Kildare,  according  to  Cogitosus,  that  her 


j86  LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


further  intimated,  such  juxtaposition  of  their  bodies,  after  death,  had  been  a 
result  of  their  wishes  whilst  alive.  In  that  tract,  it  is  expressly  noted,  their 
remains  were  interred,  in  the  city  of  Ultonian  territory,  called  Dun-da-Leth- 
glaisse,  or  Uun-da-Lethglass,8°  and  which  was  situated  near  the  sea.81  It 
existed  from  the  time  of  St.  Patrick,  as  an  ancient  episcopal  residence.82  In 
former  times,  this  city  had  been  named  Aras  Kealtuir,  after  a  celebrated  hero 
or  champion,  called  Kealtuir.83  He  is  numbered  among  the  principal  heroes 
of  Ireland,  and  he  was  a  contemporary  with  Connor  Mac  Nessa,  King  of 
Ulster.8*  Notwithstanding  this  account  of  our  saint's  death  and  burial,  the 
author  of  her  Fourth  Life  remarks,  that  the  privileges,  honour,  and  distinction, 
due  to  Kildare  city  in  the  province  of  Leinster,  were  recognised  for  ages  after 
the  Blessed  Brigid's  death,  in  connexion  with  her  name  and  memory.85  These 
facts  serve,  likewise,  to  impress  us  with  the  moral  of  all  historic  experience, 
that  great  names  serve  to  make  celebrated,  through  all  time,  localities,  which 
without  such  connexion,  should  otherwise  leave  little  to  interest  human 
sympathy,  or  awaken  popular  feeling.  Fond  memory  recalls  deeds  that  have 
been  done  there,  and  that  have  not  passed  away  to  unhonourable  oblivion. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

MIRACLES  WROUGHT  AT  KILDARE  AFTER  ST.  BRIGID'S  DEATH — THE  FALCON— ST. 
BRIGID'S  RELICS  ARE  REMOVED  TO  DOWN — REMARKABLE  DISCOVERY  OF  THE 
BODIES  OF  ST.  PATRICK,  ST.  BRIGID  AND  ST.  COLUMKILLE  IN  THAT  CITY — SOLEMN 
TRANSLATION  TO  A  MAGNIFICENT  TOMB — KILDARE  AND  ITS  TRADITIONS — - 
DESECRATION  OF  HOLY  REMAINS  AT  DOWN  —  REPUTED  REMOVAL  OF  ST.  liRIGID'.S 
HEAD  TO  AUSTRIA,  AND  AFTERWARDS  TO  LISBON. 

NOT  only  during  the  lifetime  of  St.  Brigid  did  she  perform  miracles,  but  even 
after  release  from  her  corporeal  prison,  many  wonders,  attributed  to  her 
merits  and  to  Almighty  power,  took  place  within  and  without  that  monastery, 
where  her  venerable  remains  were  deposed.1  Of  some  miracles,  Cogitosus 


remains  were  afterwards  translated  to  Down  entombed,  viz.,  St.  Patrick,  St.  Brigid  and 
is  admitted  by  Colgan.  There  they  had  St.  Columkille.  Besides,  it  became  the 
been  interred,  in  the  same  place  with  those  burial-place  of  many  other  holy  persons, 
of  Patrick  and  Columkille.  Although  the  but  less  renowned.  It  was,  also,  the  birth- 
occurrence  of  translating  her  remains  to  place  of  the  subtle  Doctor  Joannes  Scotus, 
Down  is  unquestionable  ;  yet,  the  time  when  according  to  Cavellus,  Thadses,  Wadding, 
it  took  place  is  altogether  unknown.  See  Arturus,  &c.  See  Cardinal  Bellarmin, 
Colgan's  "Trias Thaumaturga."  Appendix  "Operum,"  tomus  vii.  De  Scriptoribus 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  vi.,  p.  618.  Ecclesiasticis.  Steculum  xiv. ,  pp.  461,  462. 

80  Afterwards    Dun    Patraic,     Down,   or  s*  See  Sir  James  Ware's  "  De  Hibernia 
Downpatrick.      It   comprised    the    greater  et  Antkjuitatibus  ejus,"  cap.  xxvi.,  p.  178. 
part  of  ancient  Ulidia  or  Dalaradia.      In  the  "3  He  flourished,  about  the  time  of   our 
reign  of  Edward  II.  it  was  formed  into  two  Lord's  Incarnation,  and  in  the  beginning  of 
counties,  namely  Down,    and  the   Ards  or  the  Christian  era. 

Newtown  ;  but,  in  the  time  of  Queen  Eliza-  £4  The  father  of  Kialtuir  was  called  Crui- 

beth,   both  were  formed  into  the    present  theachyr.     This  latter  was  a  favourite  and 

county  Down,  which  got  the  name  from  its  companion  of  Connor  Mac  Nessa. 
chief    town,    Latinized     "  Dunum."       See  85  See,   Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga." 

John   O'Hart's    "Irish   Pedigrees;    or  the  Vita  Quarta  S.  Brigidse,  lib.  ii. .  cap.  xcix., 

Origin  and  Stem  of  the  Irish  Nation,"  part  and  nn.  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32, 

v.,  chap,  vi.,  p.  254.  ibid. 

81  It  is  in  eastern  Ulster.    Down  is  chiefly  CHAPTER  xv.  — '  Immediately  before  the 
celebrated,  on  account  of  three  most  illus-  narrative  of  her  death,  the  author  of  her 
trious  saints  of  Ireland,  having  been  there  Fourth  Life  says  :  "Hie,  Fratres  charissimi, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  187 


not  only  heard,  but  he  was  even  an  eye-witness.  His  account  shows,  that 
he  flourished  at  a  very  early  period,  and  as  already  mentioned,  in  a  previous 
part  of  this  biography.  The  abbot  or  president,  over  St.  Brigid's  great  and 
renowned  monastery,2  sent  stone-cutters  and  workmen  to  search  out  and 
prepare  a  mill-stone,  wherever  it  could  be  discovered.  Without  much  fore 
sight,  these  men  proceeded  to  the  top  of  a  rocky  mountain,  where  they 
selected  a  large  and  suitable  stone.  The  ascent  to  this  place  was  exceedingly 
difficult  of  approach.3  Having  shaped  the  stone  into  a  round  form  and  per 
forated  it,  to  serve  the  purpose  for  which  it  had  been  intended,  the  prior  was 
sent  for,  and  he  came  with  some  men  and  oxen  to  remove  it.  But,  the 
animals  could  not  be  driven  up  the  rough  ascent.  With  difficulty  the  prior 
approached  it,  attended  only  by  a  few  companions.  With  the  workmen  and 
attendants,  he  began  to  consider  how  the  mill-stone  could  be  removed  from 
the  mountain  brow,  for  it  was  found  impossible  to  bring  the  yolked  oxen 
over  that  rugged  and  broken  ground.  In  despair  of  accomplishing  their 
object,  some  said,  that  the  stone  should  be  abandoned,  and  that  those  who 
fashioned  it,  had  wrought  in  vain  :  but,  their  president,  more  prudently 
thinking  or  inspired,  replied  with  strong  faith  :  "  By  no  means  abandon  your 
effort,  but  lift  the  mill-stone  like  men,  and  precipitate  it  from  the  top  of  this 
mountain,  in  the  name  and  through  the  intercession  of  our  most  holy  Brigid. 
For,  unless  she,  to  whom  nothing  is  impossible,  according  to  what  is  said  in 
Scripture,  about  all  things  being  possible  to  the  believer/  bear  it  to  that  place, 
whence  the  oxen  shall  be  able  to  draw  it,  not  any  artifice  or  strength  of  man 
can  bring  this  mill-stone  over  the  rocky  ground."  Then,  with  trusting 
faith,  the  men  heaved  it  into  the  valley  beneath,  while  they  stood  above  on 
the  rock,  to  watch  its  progress.  The  stone  slided  over  the  edges  of  the  cliffs 
gradually,  until  it  came  to  a  marshy  spot  below  the  mountain.  There,  on 
account  of  its  humidity,  neither  men  nor  oxen  could  tread.  Strange  to  say, 
the  stone  glided  to  that  very  place,  where  the  animals  stood,  and  without  the 
least  fracture,  it  was  brought  by  oxen  and  men  to  the  mill.  There  it  was 
exactly  fitted,  to  serve  its  purpose. 

To  render  this  incident  more  miraculous,  the  same  mill-stone,  thus  won 
derfully  directed  by  St.  Brigid,  refused  to  perform  its  office,  when  the  grain 
of  a  certain  neighbouring  magus  had  been  brought  to  the  mill,  by  a  rustic. 
Ignorant  regarding  its  owner,  the  miller  put  that  grain  between  the  mill 
stones  ;  yeC  all  his  efforts,  seconded  by  water-power  and  by  the  pressure  of  a 
strong  current^  could  not  grind  with  the  stone,  already  particularized.  At 

miraculis    &    virtutibus    beatissimre    Matris  whom  these  observations  would  seem  appli- 

L5ri"idce  scribendi    vcl    narrandi    terminum  cable,  it  can  only  be  reasonably  conjectured, 

ponimus:    quia    digmnn    aliquid    pom    in  that  allusion  is  made  to  the  contemporaneous 

chartis    quotidie  novum  semper  de  ea  sola  abbot  over  a   monastery  of  religious  men 

jam  invenissemus.    Non  enim  modo  cessant,  then    in    Kildare,    and   who    was    included 

ncque  cessabunt  usque  ad  fmem  srcculi  talia  among  those  brethren,  to  whom  our  saint  s 

miracula  per  earn  a  Deo,  qualia  audistis  per  life   is    dedicated.       See    Colgans        Inas 

earn  in  vita  sua.     Per  hxc  autem  pauca  quoe  Thaumaturga."     Secunda  Vita  b.  Bngidce. 

scripta  sunt  lecturi,  et  audituri,  qui  scitis,  Prologus  and  cap.  xxxn.,  pp.  510,  523. 

qualis  et  quanti  merit!  apud  Deum  omnipo-  3  It  is  likely,  the  Red  Hills,  near  Kildare 

tentem  rloriosissima  Virgo  fuerit,  scire  po-  are  here  alluded  to,  or  possibly  the  Hill  ot 

testis  "— Quarta   Vita   S.    Brujidaj,   lib.   ii.,  Allen.       The  old  map  of  Kildare  county, 

can.'xii.,    sec.    80.       Bollandists'     "  Acta  published  by  John  Noble  and  James  Keenan 

Sanctorum,"  tomus  i,  Fcbruarii  Die  i.,  p.  in  1752,  gives  a  very  curious  outline  of  the 

,7I  Red    Hills,    as  also  of  the   Hill  of  Allen, 

2  Cogitosus  adds,  "  de  quo,  in  hujus  opus-  within  the  Isle  of  Allen,  and  altogether  sur- 

culi  principio,  brevera  fecimus  mentionem,"  rounded  with  bog. 

&c.     As  Cogitosus  does  not  expressly  name  4  See  St.  Mark  ix.,  22 

any  person-which  is  to  be  regretted-to  *  Near  the  town  of  Kildare  runs  a  cons;- 


1 88  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


length,  the  astonished  spectators  discovered,  how  this  grain  belonged  to  a 
magus,  and  they  no  longer  doubted,  that  mill-stone  refused  to  grind  this 
Gentile's  corn,  because  of  a  miraculous  efficacy  conferred  on  it,  through  St. 
Brigid's  merits.  When  this  corn  of  the  magus  had  been  removed,  and  that 
of  the  monastery  had  been  substituted,  the  mill-stone  began  to  move  without 
any  impediment,  and  in  its  usual  manner.  After  a  certain  interval  had 
elapsed,  it  happened,  that  the  mill  itself  was  burned  ;  and,  it  was  deemed 
remarkable,  that  not  only  every  object  therein  had  been  consumed,  but  even 
the  mill-stone,  which  corresponded  with  that  one,  which  had  been  brought 
thither,  through  St.  Brigid's  special  interposition.  This  latter  relic  was  found, 
however,  whole  and  uninjured,  among  the  smoking  ruins,  after  the  fire  had  been 
extinguished.  Such  a  circumstance  being  deemed  miraculous,  the  recovered 
stone  in  question  was  afterwards  brought  to  the  monastery,  where  it  was 
conspicuously  placed,  near  the  gate  of  that  interior  fort,6  by  which  the 
church  was  surrounded.?  Through  veneration  for  St.  Brigid,  many  came  to 
visit  it,  and  the  faithful,  who  touched  this  relic,  were  healed  of  several  dis 
eases,  which  afflicted  them.8 

A  curious  story  has  been  told  about  a  falcon,  which  was  thought  to  have 
frequented  Kildare,  and  to  have  constantly  taken  its  station  on  the  very  top 
of  the  ecclesiastical  tower,9  from  St.  Brigid's  time  to  the  twelfth  century. 
Wherefore,  the  people  called  it  St.  Brigid's  bird,  and  held  it  in  great  venera 
tion.  In  the  presence  of  some  civilians  and  soldiers,  this  bird  was  seen 
chasing  from  air  to  earth  some  wild  birds  and  water-fowl,  over  the  plain  of 
Kildare.  It  had  been  accustomed  or  trained  to  this  sport.  The  bird  would 
not  allow  any  rival  to  remain  about  Kildare  Church  ;  yet,  at  a  certain  season 
of  the  year,  during  breeding  time,  it  was  accustomed  to  retreat  among  the 
mountains  of  Glendalough.10  After  the  usual  interval,  it  returned,  nestling 


derable  stream,  which  yet  affords  an  excel-  similarity  in  structure  seems  to  point  to  the 

lent  mill-race  at  Tully.     This  probably  is  same  degree  of  knowledge  in  the  builders," 

the  current  to  which  allusion  is  made.     By  vol.  i.,  p.  xviii. 

a  south-west  course  it  falls  into  the   River  E  See    Colgan's    "Trias    Thaumaturga." 

Barrow,  to  the  north  of  Kilberry,  where  an  Vita  Secunda  S.  Brigidae,  cap.  xxxii.,  xxxiii., 

interesting  group  of  ecclesiastical  and  civil  xxxiv.,  and  n.  16,  pp.  523,  526. 

remains  may  be  seen.  9  Doubtless,  the  existing  round  tower  is 

6  This  was  probably  a  Cashcl,  which,  ow-  the  one  alluded  to. 

ing  to  the  ancient  and  modern  encroach-  I0  This  romantic  spot  is  agreeably  alluded 

ments  for  roads  and  buildings  surrounding  to  in  the  following  lines  : 

the  present  old  church  and  round  tower  at  "  Where,    girt  by  many   a   mountain 

Kildare,  has  long  since  disappeared.  grey> 

7  Lately  has  appeared  a  magnificent  illus-  Rolled  in  itself  unsociably, 
trated  work, whichhadlongoccupied  the  time  The  Valley  of  the  Lakes  displayed 
and  thoughts  of  a  distinguished  and  niunifi-  Its  shrines,  embrowned  in  thickest 
cent  Irish  nobleman,  whose  loss  to  native  art,  shade 

science  and  literature  has  been  deservedly  Of  circling  mountains;  that  appeared, 

lamented.     Before  death,  however,  he  had  With    rude    stupendous    height,    to 

made  provision  for  its  editorship  by  a  lady,  guard 

combining  in  the  rarest  degree  faculties  of  This  hallowed  region  of  repose, 

artistic  taste   and    antiquarian   knowledge.  Here  in  dark  horror  Lugduff  rose, 

The  Pagan  and  Christian  remains  of  Ireland  The  southern  sentinel ; — Beside 

are   exquisitely  produced   in   photographic  Towered     Derrybawn,     in     waving 

autotypes,    lithographs,    and   wood-engrav-  pride; 

ings,  in  a  style  leaving  nothing  to  be  desired.  Between  them,  o'er  its  rocky  bed, 

Miss  Stokes,  in  her  truly  learned  introduc-  By  wood  embrowned  a  torrent  sped  ; 

tion  to  "Notes  on  Irish  Architecture,"  by  While  with  contrasted  brightness  fell, 

Edwin,  Third  Earl  of  Dunraven,  has  pointed  From  hills,  that  westward  bound  the 

out  the  differences  existing,  to  mark  the  in-  vale, 

dependent  purposes  for  which  the  Pagan  Glaneola's  cascade  ; — And  North, 

caisel  or  stone-fort  and  the  Christian  caisel  Broccagh   his   mountain   mists   sent 

or  enclosure  had  been  erected,  "  while  their  forth  ; 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID.  189 


in  an  almost  tame  state,  within  the  ecclesiastical  buildings.  The  bird  re 
mained  always  undisturbed  by  their  pious  inmates.  At  the  time  of  King- 
John's  departure  from  Ireland,  this  extraordinary  bird  of  ages,  and  which  had 
ever  been  regarded  with  pride  by  the  Kildare  people,  was  killed  by  a  rustic. 
He  struck  it  with  his  staff,  whilst  incautiously  exposed  to  a  fate,  for  which  it 
seemed  unprepared.  From  this  incident,  Giraldus  Cambrensis  draws  the 
coiumon-place  moral,  that  in  the  most  prosperous  condition  of  things,  danger 
may  be  at  hand,  and  that  we  should  not  trust  life,  which  is  daily  exposed  to 
mischances,  however  pleasant  and  agreeable  may  be  our  state.11 

It  seems  sufficiently  probable,  that  the  remains  of  the  venerable  abbess 
were  at  first  interred  within  the  church  of  Kildare  ;  where  her  nuns  for  some 
ages,  to  honour  her  memory,  kept  a  fire  always  burning.  Hence,  that  con 
vent  was  called  the  House  of  Fire.12  It  is  supposed,  that  about  A.D.  835,  or 
probably  before,  when  Kildare  begun  to  suffer  from  the  hostile  Danish  in 
cursions,^  the  relics  of  our  saint  were  removed  to  Down1-*  for  greater  security, 
and  to  guard  them  from  Pagan  profanation.  Here,  they  were  deposed,  with 
those  of  St.  Patrick  and  of  St.  Columba.  We  can  have  little  doubt,  they 
were  for  a  long  time  carefully  preserved,  and  greatly  honoured  by  the  faithful. 
Yet,  the  Northmen  frequently  attacked,  plundered,  and  burned  this  town. 
These  ravages  were  continued,  during  the  tenth,  eleventh,  and  even  the 
twelfth  century.^  It  seems  probable,  the  harrassed  townspeople  were  obliged, 
through  motives  of  precaution,  to  remove  and  bury  in  the  earth  those  precious 
remains  consigned  to  their  charge.  Probably,  the  secret  of  their  entombment 
had  been  confided,  only  to  a  few  ecclesiastics,  and  these  might  have  perished, 
during  the  tumults  of  that  time.  It  would  appear,  that  a  tradition,  regarding 
where  the  illustrious  saints  had  been  buried,  passed  out  of  popular  recollec 
tion  in  Down,16  after  the  lapse  of  some  centuries.  What  is  still  more  aston 
ishing,  a  knowledge,  concerning  where  St.  Patrick's,  St.  Brigid's,  and_  St. 
Columkille's  relics  had  been  deposed,  was  even  obliterated,  from  the  minds 
of  the  faithful,  and  in  a  city,  where  those  holy  persons  were  ever  held  in 
such  extraordinary  veneration. 

About  the  year  1185, '7  however,  the  first  year  of  King  John's  arrival  in 
Ireland,13  when  Malachy  III.1?  was  bishop  over  Down,  this  holy  man  was 
accustomed  to  offer  up  his  prayers  to  God,  that  a  discovery  of  the  above- 
mentioned  saint's  relics  might  be  made  by  him.20  It  so  happened,  one  night, 

IUit  in  the  cast,  no  envious  height  ;  in  one  tomb  with  Patrick  ;  and  where  Colum 

Shut  out  the  golden  flood  of  light."  Cille  was  afterwards  interred.      See  Drs. 

Todd's  and  Reeves'  "  Martyrology  of  Done- 

— John  D' Alton's  "  Dermid  ;  or  Erin  in  the  gal,"  pp.  36,  37. 

Days  of  Born."— Canto  v.,   sec.    xi.,    pp.  *  See  "  The  Irish  Penny  Magazine,    vol. 

131,  132.  i-,  ^o.  43,  p.  338. 

"See     Giraldi     Cambrensis     "Opera,"  '"  An  interesting  account  of  this  ancient 

tomus   v.      Edited  by   lames   F.    Dnnock,  city,  supposed  to  be  the  Dunum  mentioned 

M.A.       Topographia  Hibernica,   dist.  ii.,  by   the   geographer   Ptolomy,   is  found   in 

cap.  xxxvii.,  pp.  122,  123.  Walter  Harris'  "  Ancient  and  Present  State 

IJ'  See  Rev.  S.  Baring- Gould's  "Lives  of  of  the  County  Down." 
the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.     February  1st,  p.  22.  '7  See  Rev.  S.  Baring-Gould  s      Lives  of 

'*  "Cependant  versle  milieu  duneuvieme  the  Saints,"  vol.  n.,  February  Ist^p.  22. 
siecle  un  peuple  sorti  des  forets  de  la  Scandi-  lS  See  1'  Abbe    Mac-Geoghegan  s       ttis- 

navie,  les  Danois,  aborderent   en   Irlande  ;  toirc  de  1'Irlande  Ancienne  et   Moderne, 

ils  en  occuperent  une  partie  sans  beaucoup  for  an  account  of  his  visit,  tome  n.,  parti, 

de  peine  ;  la  lutte  contre  eux  devient  cepen-  iii.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  33,  34-  - 

dant  vive  et  obstinee."— Gustave  de  Beau-  '»  See  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  i.,      Bishops  < 

mont's  "  L'lrlande,  Sociale,  Politiqueet  Re-  Down,"  p.  196. 

hVieuse"  tomei.    Introduction  Historique,  =°  See  an  account  of  this  discovery,   11 

'  ,ec    n     D   8  Ussher's  "  De  Britanmcarum    Ecclesiarura 

CIli-l  I J*    !•  j    -jt*-.     lit  j    ^J*    *^«  ••}]  ••  Q  C       f        Cr\'» 

'«  She  was  buried  at  Dun,  or  Downpatrick,       Primordiis,"  cap.  xvn. ,  pp.  »J 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


while  engaged  in  fervent  prayer  and  within  the  church  of  his  cathedral  city, 
Malachy  saw  a  ray  of  light,  like  a  sun-beam,  extending  itself  through  the 
church.21  Finally,  it  settled  over  the  graves  of  those  inhumed  saints.  The 
bishop  was  exceedingly  rejoiced  at  this  vision,  and  he  prayed  more  earnestly, 
that  the  ray  of  light  might  remain,  until  he  had  discovered  the  relics.  Then 
rising,  and  having  procured  necessary  implements,  he  went  to  the  illuminated 
spot  and  dug  beneath.  In  fine,  he  disinterred  the  bodies  of  the  three  saints. 
The  tomb  or  grave  of  St.  Patrick  was  fixed  in  a  central  cave  or  compartment, 
with  the  remains  of  St.  Bridget  and  St.  Columba,  on  either  side.22  He  then 
withdrew  these  precious  relics,  and  placed  them  in  three  separate  coffins. 
Afterwards,  he  buried  them  in  that  same  spot,  which  he  took  care  to  mark 
with  great  exactness.  Malachy  related  the  particulars  of  his  vision,  to  John 
de^Courcey,  the  conqueror  of  Down.  This  renowned  warrior,  being  distin 
guished  for  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  religion,  concurred  with  the  bishop,  that 
a  message  should  be  despatched  to  Rome,  with  an  humble  supplication, 
addressed  to  the  Sovereign  Chief  of  the  faithful,  Urban  III.  His  sanction, 
for  a  solemn  translation  of  those  relics,  was  requested.  To  this  petition, 
Pope  Urban  assented,  and  immediately  he  despatched  Vivian,  Cardinal 
Priest  of  St.  Stephen,  as  his  Legate  to  Ireland.  The  public  translation  of 
the  relics  took  place,  on  the  gth  of  June,  1186,  the  festival  of  St.  Columkille. 
With  all  due  reverence  and  great  solemnity,  those  remains  were  removed  from 
the  place  of  their  deposition  to  a  more  conspicuous  position,  assigned  for 
their  reception,  within  the  cathedral  church.23  Fifteen  bishops,  many  abbots, 
provosts,  deans,  archdeacons,  priors,  with  other  clergy  and  the  laity,  assisted 
on  this  solemn  occasion. 2« 

_  Speaking  of  Kildare  city,25  in  Leinster,  which  had  become  so  renowned, 
owing  to  its  connexion  with  our  glorious  abbess,  Giraldus  Cambrensis  says, 
that  foremost,  among  many  miraculous  things  worthy  of  record,  was  St. 
Brigid's  inextinguishable  fire.26  Not,  that  this  fire  itself  was  incapable  of 
being  extinguished,  did  it  obtain  any  such  name,  but,  because  nuns  and  holy 
women  had  so  carefully  and  sedulously  supplied  fuel  to  feed  its  flames,  that 
from  St.  Brigid's  time  to  the  twelfth  century,  when  he  wrote,  it  remained  per 
petually  burning  through  a  long  lapse  of  years.27  What  was  still  more  re- 


21  See  an  interesting  account  of  this  whole  25  The  town  of  Kildare  and  its  immediate 

matter  in  Rev.  Sylvester  Malone's  "Church  surroundings,    together    with    St.    Brigid's 

History  of  Ireland,"  chap,  iii.,  pp.   95  to  well,  near  'fully,  is   shown  on  the  "  Ord- 

97-  nance    Survey    Townland    Maps    for    the 

-:  See     Giraldi    Cambrensis,     "  Opera,"  County  of  Kildare,"  Sheet  22. 

vol.    v.      Edited    by  James    F.    Dimock.  26  Singularly   applicable    are    the   lines, 

Topographia  Hibernica,  dist.  iii.,  cap.  xviii.,  found  in  that  magnificent  poem,  "  The  Fire 

pp.  163,  164.    _  Worshippers,"  one  of  Moore's  happiest  in- 

"  The  bodies  of  St.  Patrick,  St.  Columb,  spirations,  and  allegorically  referring  to  Ire- 

and  St.  Bridget  were  translated  at  Down,  land, 
by  the  Pope's  Legate  ;  and  the  staff  of  Jesus 

was  carried  in  triumph  from  the  Cathedral  "  And  though  for  ever  past  the  days 

of  Armagh  to  Christ  Church,  Dublin,   the  When  God  was  worshipp'd  in  the  blaze 

adventurers  hoping  that  it  would  promote  That  from  its  lofty  altar  shone  ;— 

their  ^interests."— Taffe's   "  History  of  Ire-  Though  fled  the  priests,  the  vot'ries  gone, 

land,"  vol.  i.,  p.  42.  Still  did  the  mighty  flame  burn  on, 

24_This  account  nearly  agrees,   in   every  Through   chance    and    change,    through 

particular,  with  one  contained  in  the  Office  good  and  ill, 

of  this  Translation,  printed  at  Paris,  A.D.  Like  its  own  God's  eternal  will, 

1620.      The  Cardinal  Legate,  however,   is  Deep,  constant,  bright,  unquenchable." 
named  John,    in    the    latter    compilation. 

Ussher  calls  him  Vivian.     See,    "  De  Bri-  — "Lalla  Rookh." 

tannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Primordiis,"   cap.  2?  To  this  remarkable  circumstance  allu* 

xvii.,  p.  891.  sion  has  been  made,  and  it  has  been  immor- 


LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID.  i9t 


markable,  notwithstanding  great  heaps  of  wood,  that  must  have  been  piled 
upon  it,  during  such  a  prolonged  interval,  the  ashes  of  this  fire  never  in 
creased.28 

What  is  furthermore  remarkable,  from  the  time  of  St.  Brigid  and  after  her 
death  until  the  twelfth  century,  an  even  number,  including  twenty  nuns,  and 
the  abbess,  had  remained  in  Kildare  nunnery.  Each  of  these  religious,  in 
rotation,  nightly  watched  this  inextinguishable  fire.  On  the  twentieth  night, 
having  placed  wood  on  its  embers,  the  last  nun  said  :  "  O  Brigid,  guard  thy 
fires,  for  this  night  the  duty  devolves  on  thyself."  Then  the  nun  left  that 
pyre,  but  although  the  wood  might  have  been  all  consumed  before  morning, 
yet  the  coals  remained  alive  and  inextinguishable.  A  circular  hedge  of  shrubs 
or  thorns  surrounded  it,  and  no  male  person  dare  presume  to  enter  within  that 
sacred  enclosure,  lest  he  might  provoke  Divine  vengeance,  as  had  been  ex 
perienced  by  a  certain  rash  man,  who  ventured  to  transgress  this  ordinance. 
Women  only  were  allowed  to  tend  that  fire.  Even  these  attendants  were  not 
permitted  to  blow  it  with  their  breath ;  but,  they  used  boughs  of  trees  as  fans 
for  this  purpose.  Young  goats  could  not  even  penetrate  the  enclosure,  through 
St.  Brigid's  miraculous  intervention.  At  Kildare,  also,  were  to  be  seen  most 
beautiful  plains,  which  were  called  St.  Brigid's  pastures,  and  no  one  dared 
disturb  them  with  the  plough.2?  Besides,  it  was  considered  almost  miraculous, 
although  animals  of  all  the  surrounding  districts  grazed  on  these  lands, 3°  from 
the  rising  to  the  setting  sun,  on  the  following  morning  this  herbage  seemed 
luxuriant  as  ever.31  The  same  remarks  well  apply  to  the  celebrated  racing 
ground  of  the  Curragh,32  in  the  nineteenth  as  well  as  during  the  twelfth 
century. 

It  is  mentioned,  that  a  certain  archer,  belonging  to  Count  Richard's  family, 
had  dared  to  leap  over  the  hedge,  and  to  blow  with  his  breath  St.  Brigid's 
fire,  at  Kildare  ;  but,  immediately  he  leaped  back  frantic,  and  whoever 
accosted  him,  this  archer  blew  into  the  person's  face,  in  like  manner,  while 
stating,  that  he  had  thus  profaned  the  saint's  sacred  fire.  In  this  demented 
state,  he  ran  through  houses  of  the  whole  town.  Being  seized  and  bound  by 
his  companions,  he  begged  them  to  conduct  him  towards  the  first  water  they 
could  meet,  and  here  drinking  an  incredible  quantity,  he  immediately  ex 
pired.  When  another  man  had  put  his  leg  over  the  hedge,  surrounding  this 
fire,  and  had  been  suddenly  drawn  back  by  his  companions,  both  his  foot 
and  thigh  became  withered.  So  long  as  he  lived,  that  person  remained  lame 
and  paralysed. 3J  This,  however,  was  not  the  only  instance  of  Divine  judg- 

talized,  in  some  beautiful  lines,  written  by  Exigua  tantum  gelidus  ros  nocte  reponet." 

"the  poet  of  all  circles  and   the  idol  of  his 

own."     See  Moore's  "  Iri.>h  Melodies."  —Georgia*?,  lib.  ii.,  11.  2OI,  2O2. 

'-s  See     Giraldi    Cambrensi*'     "Opera,''  ''  See  Giraldi  Cambrensis'  "Opera,"  vol. 

tomus   v.       Edited    by    Inmes   F.    Dimock,  v.       Edited   by   James    F.    Dimock,    M.A. 

M.A.      Topographia    Ilibernica,    di>t.   ii.,  Topographia  Hibernica,  dist.  ii.,  cap.  xxxv., 

cap.  xxxiv.,  pp.  120,  121.  xv-ivi.,  pp.  121,  122. 

-'  Allusion  is  no  doubt  made  to  the  Cur-  ;;  The  old  map  of  Kildare  county  by  John 

ragh,    "a  fine  undulating  down,  about  six  Noble  and  James  Kernan  presents  a  picture 

miles  in  length  and  two  in  breadth,"  and  it  of  the  great  racing  contest  in   1751,  on  the 

is   "unequalled,  perhaps,  in  the  world   for  Curragh  of  Kildare,  between  Black  and  All 

the  exceeding  softness  and  elasticity  of  the  Black — so  celebrated  in  Oliver  Goldsmith's 

turf." Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall's  "  Ireland  :  its  "Citizen   of    the    World,"    letter  v. — with 

Scenery,  Character,"  &c.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  258,  Bajazet.     This  illustration   also  shows    the 

2co  equestrian  costume  of  that  period. 

3°  To  these  pastures  are  applied  the  lines          33  See     Giraldi    Cambrensis'    "Opera." 

of  Virgil  : Edited  by  James  F.  Dimock,  M.A.     Topo 
graphia  Hibernica,  dist.  ii.,  cap.  xlviii.,  p. 

"  Et  quantum  longis  carpent  armenta  die-  131. 
bus 


LIFE  OF  57'.  EP.:GID. 


to  570.  Ices  Er-r.ii  /L-.-ri.--:  z^i  C.-.':^ -?.-:--  si::— ." 

":  He  occapie-i  ihis  =-5-2  :"::=:  A.r.  1215  :: 

122-i,  v;ie^  he  i.e-i,  a:c.:  ±e  ;e-nr:::ic  of  —Col.  !:::.     r  -'..  ei:u:^.  L-:r£:-,  ifcf. 

:-  Se?  Rev.  5.  Bz^-r-C-rzIi's  "  L-T^  ~:  tqziry  bad  beai  discoTerec'anocs  ±e  nir.s 

sels/A-D.  l5iS.      ^ee  z'J~'.  C:^:—  ::  Do-sn. "     Aztc^i_i  5-i-c.  5.  pp. 

ccza  ve:er_5  ;tri;r^ras  carletizi;  azraret,  in  i5  Se-e  KsTertr-'s    ';  Hiit^rj  of  Ire'.irr:, 

cza  corccn  D.  Fi^icii.  Cc'.uncx,  e:  Er>i-  Azrler.:  and  iL>ier^."  c2^.r.  ECE^  c.  55;. 

dz  rie^i:  5cp^^-:"— R::ij.ri:  Srirvh-rKi  «  See  Rev.  5.  Barin^-&:1^i'i  "  Lives  of 

Ih:iU_£-i5,  "  De  Rcb^s  iz.  Hiierz^i  Ges-  ths  Sa.ir.r-,'"'  voL  iL,  Fecriiry  ij^  p.  2X 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


e  several  prophecies,  regarding  this  illustrious  saint,  her 
a  r.er  virtues  were  destined  to  be  celebrated,  not  only  in  Ireland, 
the  world,  while   that  veneration  and  respect  'p^id  to  her 
OI7  v  itinue.  until  the  cay  of  final   doom.*?     The  event  has 

ed.  h-.therto.  with  this  recorded  prediction,  nor  can  we  reasonably 
-•.:ot  tne  prophetic  saying  will  continue  to  be  verihed.  when  time  draws  to 
"or.  numberless  writers  have  testified  concerning  the  extent  and 
lose  honours  paid  to  her  throughout  Ireland,  as  also  in  the 
various  countries  c:  Europe,  and  over  the  entire  world.     Generations  ye: 
uncom  sr.a..  continue  still  further  to  extend  and  perpetuate  her  fame. 


CHAPTER     XVI. 


MEMORY  —  MODERN    CHURCHES.    CHAPELS.    AND   CONVENTS 


THE  extraordinary  veneration  and  devotion,  entertained  by  the  Irish  people* 
for  ^t.  Bridget,  are  evidenced  by  numberless  ancient  and  modem  churches, 
c.iapels.  convents,  holy  wells,  and  places,  still  retaining  her  name,  throughout 
every  part  of  our  island.  There  were  many  other  churches  and  religious 
houses,  in  different  parts  of  Ireland,  and  of  which  ^ft.  Brigid  is  patron  ; 
although  such  erections  and  places  are  not  now  named  after  her.  Colgan 
had  obtained  catalogues  of  churches,  belonging  to  the  different  dioceses  of 
Dublin,  Tuam.  Kildare.  Elphin.  and  Lismore.  afterwards  united  to  Waterford, 
from  bishop-  presiding  over  these  respective  sees.  From  such  lists,  he  was 
enabled  to  set  down  the  names  of  various  churches  or  places,  which  claimed 
St.  Brigid.  as  special  patron.1  But,  as  he  was  unable  to  obtain  catalogues 
ot  contemporaneous  churches  and  patrons,  in  connexion  with  the  remaining 

_ 

-nve  or  twenty-six  sees  in  Ireland,  he  justly  leaves  us  to  infer,  how 
extended  must  have  been  that  fame  and  veneration,  procured  for  our  saint, 
throughout  the  rest  of  our  island.-  Of  Erinn  she  was  always  regarded  as 
the  great.and  general  intercessor.  Hence,  it  happened,  that  so  many  different 
territories,  baronies,  parishes,  denominations,  townlands,  and  natural  objects, 
were  associated  with  her  name.3  While  enlarging  this  list,  from  other  avail 
able  sources  for  information,  our  catalogue  must  necessarily  be  imperfect. 
A  more  extended  knowledge  of  localities  and  of  popular  traditions,  with  com 
parison  and  examination  of  registers  or  archives,  may  enable  future  investi 
gators  greatly  to  increase  the  succeeding  topographical  collection  of  Brigitine 
localities  and  objects. 


*•"  ••  Caram   na~>:::e    ril;am   psr.es,   qu<e  ;  When  Co'.gan's  mere  page  is  cited  in  this 

-icut  sol  in  vertice  call  luceb;:  in  mundo/'—  chapter,  allusion  U  made  to  the  previously 

Vita  Tertia   s.    Bridies,   car.    ii..  p.    Z2~.  mentioned  work  and  appendix. 

Also,  the  same  wcrcs  cccur/m  Vi:a  Quarta  -:  This  enumeration  Coigan  extracted  from 

S.  BrigkL-e.  hb.  i.,  car.  ii.,  p.  546,  with  the  his  Catalogue  PI  Churches,  belonging  to  the 

additional.  '•  u-que  in  r-r.em.  -aculi." — Col-  dioceses,  already  mentioned.    But,  he  would 

gan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. ':  net    undertake    to    say,    whether   all    these 

CHAPTER  xvi.  — '  It  mu.st   be   remarked,  places  derived  their  names  from  St.  Brigid, 

that  some  places,  mentioned   1  y  Co'.gan,  as  surnamed  Thaumaturga,  owing  to  the  num- 

being    dedicated    to,    or    called    alter,    our  ber  and  greatness  of  her  miracles,  or  \vhe- 

saint,  are  to  be  found  in  other  Irish  dioceses,  ther  some  had  not  been  derived  irom  other 

besides  those  previously  named.   feee-'Tria.s  saints,   bearing  the  name  of  Brigid,  since 

Thaumaturga.'1     Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  many  such  are  to  be  found  in  our  Irish  Ca- 

S.  Brigidie,  cap.  xvi.,  pp.  624,  c2>.  lencars. 

O 


i94  LIFE   OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


Foremost  among  the  places,  -where  St.  Brigid  was  honoured,  is  Kildare. 
The  cathedral  church^  of  this  ancient  city,  in  the  province  of  Leinster,  took 
her  name  and  tutelary  guardianship,  we  can  have  little  doubt,  not  very  long 
after  her  demise.5  In  the  seventeenth  century,  her  chapel  was  also  standing.6 
A  monastery  of  Canons  Regular  at  Kildare,  where  St.  Brigid  formerly  pre 
sided  over  monks  and  nuns,  is  said  to  have  been  dedicated  to  her  ;  while, 
the  convent  of  her  order  rejoiced  especially,  in  having  her  once  as  an  illustrious 
directrix,  and  after  death  as  a  glorious  patroness.  In  modern  times,  the 
Catholic  parochial  church  has  been  dedicated  to  her  memory,  while,  the 
Presentation  Convent  and  schools  of  the  town  arc  under  her  special 
patronage.  Further,  towards  the  west,  Rosenallis,?  a  parish  church,  in  the 
barony  of  Tinnahinch,  Queen's  County,  in  the  deanery  of  Killeigh,  or  Kill- 
achuidh,  diocese  of  Kildare,8  was  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.9 

The  following  churches  and  places  were  dedicated  to  or  named  from  St. 
Bride,  or  St.  Bridget,  in  the  present  city  and  diocese  of  Dublin.  St.  Bride's 
Church,10  situated  in  Bride-street,11  was  formerly  a  dependency  on  the  Church 
of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity,  and  afterwards  on  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  owing 
to  a  grant  of  Archbishop  Comin.  It  also  was  called  after  our  saint.12 
Bride's-alley,  running  off  Bride-street.  Bride's-place,  situated  off  Golden- 
lane.  Bridewell-lane,  off  West  Arran-street.  This  locality  may  have  taken 
its  name,  from  some  Brideswell.  or  St.  Brigid's  well.  A  nunnery,  dedicated 
to  St.  Bride,  formerly  stood  in  Channel-row.  There  was  an  hospital,  dedi 
cated  to  St.  Peter  and  to  St.  Brigid.13  It  stood  in  Peter-street.  There  was 
a  Bride's  Well ;  now  covered  by  a  pump,  which  is  to  be  seen  at  present  in 
a  courtway  off  Bride-street.  In  the  county  of  Dublin,  at  Killossery,  other 
wise  called  Ashbourne-rath  on  Ashbourne-road,  eight  or  nine  miles  from 
Dublin  city,  are  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  ivied  church,  which  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Brigid.1'*  It  is  a  curacy  in  the  deanery  of  Swords.15  It  was  called  Kilteri 
or  Killostre  in  ancient  documents.16 

The  old  ruins  of  Killester,  anciently  called  KyllastraJ7  or  Quillestra,  are 
enclosed  by  walls,  and  on  the  road-side.lS     Several  portions  of  the  former 


4  Sec  Colgan,  p.  625.  Most  Holy  Trinity.     See   "  History  of  the 

s  See  a  description  of  the  ruins  in  Thomas  City  of  Dublin,  from  the  earliest  accounts  to 

Bell's   "Essay  on  the  Origin  and  Progress  the   present  time,"  &c.,   by  J.  "Wai-burton, 

of  Gothic  Architecture,  with  reference  to  Rev.   J.    Whitelaw,  and   the    Rev.    Robert 

the  Ancient  History  and   Present  State  of  "Walsh,  vol.  i.,  p.  267. 

the  Remains  of  such  Architecture  in  Ire-  "  This  is  probably  the  one,  called  Tern- 
land,  to  which  was  awarded  the  Prize  pro-  plum  S.  Brigida%  or  Tcampull  Bride,  in 
posed  by  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  for  the  Colgan's  list,  p.  625. 

best  Essay  on  that  Subject,"  sect,  xvi.,  pp.  l"  See  "William  Monck  Mason's  "History 

192  to  195.     Dublin  :   1829,  8vo.  and  Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and  Cathe- 

6  Kill-brigdc,   or    Kilbridc,    a    chapel    at  dral   Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dublin," 

Kildare    town,    and    in    the    same    diocese,  &c.,  book  i.,  chap,  xi.,  p.  72. 

province  of  Leinster,  was  dedicated  to   St.  I3  This    was    founded    in    1810,    by    Dr. 

Brigid,  in  Colgan's  time.     See  p.  625.  Kirby. 

^  See  its  parochial  extent  on   "  Ordnance  u  Sec  "  Repertorium  Yiride." 

Survey   Townland  Maps   for   the    (Queen's  IS  See  D' Alton's  "  History  of  the  County 

County."     Sheets  3,  4,  6,  7,  8.  of  Dublin,"  pp.  400  to  402. 

8  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  l6  See  William  Monck  Mason's  "History 

9  See  an  interesting  account  of  this  parish —  and  Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and  Cathe- 
the  proper  name  of  which  is  stated   to  be  dral  Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dublin," 
Oregan — by  the  Rev.  John  Baldwin,  curate,  &c.,  book  i.,  chap,  x.,  sect,  ii.,  p.  49. 

in  William  Shaw  Mason's  "  Statistical  Ac-  I?  See  some  curious  grants  of  lands  here 

count  or  Parochial  Survey  of  Ireland,"  vol.  to  a  certain  Andrew  Breen,  in  Warburton's, 

iii.     No.  xvi.,  pp.  311  to  332.  Whitelaw's  and  \Valsh's   "History  of  the 

10  We  find,  at  A.D.  1 180,  Joseph,  chaplain  City  of  Dublin,  from  the  earliest  accounts  to 
of  St.  Bridget's,  was  a  subscribing  witness  the  present  time,"  &c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  266. 

to  a  grant  of  land,  made  to  the  prior  of  the  l8  About  three  miles  from  Dublin  city. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


'95 


building  remain,  but,  in  a  very  delapidated  condition.  Masses  of  ivy  shade 
them  on  every  direction.  J9  The  walls  are  well  jointed  and  grouted,  while  the 
black  calp  limestone  of  this  district  furnished  material  for  their  erection.  These 
are  three  feet  in  thickness,  and  the  church  measures  seventeen  feet  in  width, 
on  the  interior,  by  forty-six  feet,  in  length.  The  ruins  stand  in  the  centre  of  a 
small  and  overcrowded  graveyard,  which  is  nearly  covered  with  weeds,  aged 
elder  trees,  and  tangled  brambles.  This  chapel— once  appendant  to  °the 
church  ot  Swords— appears  to  have  been  quadrangular,  without  the  usual 
division  of  nave  and  choir.  Four  large  apertures  are  in  the  side-walls— two 
of  these  on  either  side.  Towards  the  road,  one  opening  appears  to  have  been 


The  Old  Ruins  of  Killester. 


arched  with  undressed  stone,  and  this  was  of  obtusely-pointed  Gothic  shape. 
1'robably  a  door  lay  underneath  it.  On  one  of  the  gables,  towards  the  west, 
a  large  door-way  pierced  the  wall,  which  seems  torn  away  below  its  sill  to 
the  present  earth-level.  Traces  of  plaster,  remaining  about  its  interior,  prove 
that  the  church  was  used  for  purposes  of  worship,  at  no  very  remote  age. 
Opposite  the  gable  described,  there  was  an  orifice  in  the  other.  A  large- 
pointed  Gothic  eastern  window  stood  here.20  Mr.  1)''  Alton,  who  saw  the 
place  before  the  year  1838,  infers  only  the  existence  of  this  window.  Com 
fortable  old  mansions,  with  their  high  garden  walls,  are  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  this  old  burial-place  ;  and,  but  for  its  proximity  to  the  public 
road,  the  seclusion  of  its  situation  would  almost  be  complete.  The  grave 
surfaces  are  high  over  the  adjoining  fields  and  the  road  level  ;  especially 
between  the  ruins  and  the  public  highway.  Rank,  indeed,  is  that  soil, 
formed  by  the  dust  of  many  generations  of  dead,  here  quietly  reposing.21  A 


l>  The  accompanying  engraving  by  Mrs. 
Millanl,  Dublin,  is  from  a  sketch  taken  by 
the  author  on  the  spot,  January  1st,  1876. 

:o  See  Thomas  Bell's  "  Kssay  on  the 
Origin  and  Progress  of  Gothic  Architecture, 
with  reference  to  the  Ancient  History  and 
Present  State  of  the  Remains  of  such  Archi 


tecture  in  Ireland,"  etc.,  sect.  xiv. ,  p.  188. 

21  In  some  instances,  the  coffins  of  mere 
infants  were  found  protruding  over  the  sur 
face  ;  and,  in  one  particular  case,  the  name, 
and  date  of  death,  inscribed  over  two  years 
before,  were  distinctly  legible  on  the  tiny 
breast-plate. 


196  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


few  old  trees,  near  the  iron  gate,  which  affords  an  entrance,  seem  to  have 
shaded  the  graves  beneath  for  centuries.  One  of  those  trees — an  ash — is 
rapidly  decaying.  On  the  October  day,22  when  we  rested  for  a  time  at  this 
mortuary  place,  "the  sear  and  yellow  leaf"  scantily  hung  from  the  few  re 
maining  branches.  This  chapel,  an  appendage  to  Christ  Church,  Dublin,  at 
the  period  of  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion,  was  dedicated,  as  we  are  told,  to 
St.  Brigid,  the  Patroness  of  Ireland.23 

At  Swords,  about  eight  miles  from  Dublin,  there  was  a  chapel,  dedicated 
to  St.  Brigid,  lying  north  of  the  town,  and  an  ancient  pardon  cross  stood 
near.2*  It  adjoined  the  prebendary's  glebe,  and  it  arose  not  far  from  the 
gates  of  the  old  archiepiscopal  palace,  having  two  burgages  attached.25  At 
Ward,26  about  three  or  four  miles  from  Dublin,  on  the  Finglas  side,  are  the 
very  slender  ruins  of  a  chapel,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,2?  one  of  three  subser 
vient  to  Finglas.  These  remains  are  sodded  over,  almost  even  with  the 
ground,  excepting  one  ivied  gable.  No  tomb  of  note  is  to  be  found  in  the 
graveyard.28  This  chapel  of  Ward,29  a  parochial  one,  in  the  barony  of 
Castleknock,  lay  within  the  diocese  and  county  of  Dublin. 3°  At  Castle- 
knock,  about  five  miles  from  Dublin,  there  might  formerly  be  seen  an  abbey 
for  Canons,  following  the  rule  of  St.  Augustine.  About  1184,  Richard 
Tyrrell,  in  honour  of  St.  Brigid,  granted  certain  lands  to  endow  it.31  This 
handsome  suburban  village  of  Castleknock,32  had  a  parish  church  in  a  barony 
so  called,  of  Dublin  county  and  diocese.33  It  was  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid, 
who  was  also  patroness  of  a  cell  there  established.3*  Likewise,  a  Kildarenia, 
parish  church,  belonging  to  the  diocese  of  Dublin,35  is  said  to  have  been 
under  St.  Brigid's  patronage.  Tulach,  or  Tully,36  a  parish  within  the  barony 
of  Rathdown,  county  and  diocese  of  Dublin,37  had  a  church  dedicated  to  St. 
Brigid.38  Already  has  allusion  to  it  been  made,  in  a  previous  chapter. 
Besides  these,  Grainseach  Harold,  alias,  Harold  Grange,  a  parish  church, 
within  the  county  and  diocese  of  Dublin,3?  was  under  the  patronage  of  St. 
Brigid.  At  Tallagh,  about  seven  miles  from  Dublin,  a  chapel  of  St.  Bride 
stood  near  the  Dodder.  The  stones  of  this  building  were  used  in  the 
erection  of  an  adjoining  factory.  There  was  a  Kilbride  chapel,  near  Rath- 


"-  In  1870.  •'=  See  Colgau,  p.  625. 

23  See  D'Alton's  "  History  of  the  County  33  See  D'Alton's  "  History  of  the  County 
of  Dublin,"  pp.  239  to  241.  of  Dublin,"  pp.  552  to  562. 

24  See,    also,    William    Monck    Mason's  34  See  William  Monck  Mason's  "  History 
"  History  and  Antiquities   of   St.  Patrick's  and  Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and  Cathe- 
Cathedral    and    Collegiate    Church,     near  clral  Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dublin," 
Dublin,"  &c.,  book  i.,  chap,  x.,  sect,  ii.,  p.  &c.,  book  i.,  chap,  x.,  sect,  ix.,  p.  58- 

49.  35  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

25  See  D'Alton's  "  History  of  the  County  ;>6  See     "Ordnance     Survey    Townland 
of  Dublin,"  p.  274.  Maps  for  the  County  of  Dublin."     Sheets 

26  In   ancient   times,  called  the   town   of  22,  23,  25,  26. 
Riemund  le  Bank.  3?  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

2?  See  William  Monck  Mason's  "History  3S  The  Rev.  Dr.  Todd  takes  Mr.  D' Alton 

and  Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and  Cathe-  and  Ledwich  to  task,  for  stating  this  church 

dral  Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dublin,"  had  been  dedicated  to  St.  Tullock  or  St. 

&c.,  book  i.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  37.  Olave.  The  ancient  name  was  Cut,Ac  ru\ 

-8  See  D'Alton's  "  History  of  the  County  n-eprcop,  "  the  hill  of  the  bishops,"  and  it 

of  Dublin,"  pp.  58410587.  Avas  sacred  to  St.  Bride's  memory.  Sec 

29  See  its  extent,  on  the  "Ordnance  Sur-  "  The  Book  of  Obits  and  Martyrology  of 
vcy   Townland   Maps   for    the    County   of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity, 
Dublin."     Sheets  10,  n,  13,  14.  commonly   called   Christ   Church,   Dublin. 

30  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  Edited   by  John    Clarke   Crosthwaite   and 

31  See  it  shown  on  the   "Ordnance  Sur-  Rev.  James  Henthorn  Todd.     Introduction, 
vey   Townland   Maps    for    the    County   of  p.  Ixxxiii.,  n.  (c). 

Dublin."     Sheets  13,  14,  17,  18.  39  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


197 


more,  and  between  it  and  Tipper,  which  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  St. 
John  of  Jerusalem.  Between  the  Golden  Hill  and  Knocktelowny,  eight  or 
nine  miles  from  Dublin,  were  the  ruins  of  a  chapel  called  Kilbride  Ogadre. 
It  lies  in  the  glen  near  the  Liffey.  It  was  dependent  on  the  mother 
church  of  Kilmesantan  or  Templesantan,  so  picturesquely  situated  high  over 
the  bank  of  the  Dodder  River,  and  nestling  among  the  Dublin  mountains.*0 
At  Stillorgan,  about  five  miles  from  Dublin,  there  was  a  church,-"  dedicated 
to  St.  Bride.'2  It  is  supposed,  the  Protestant  church  now  stands  on  its  site. 
An  ancient  well  is  near,  but  it  could  not  be  ascertained,  as  having  been 
dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  from  any  existing  tradition. 

The  following  compound  local  denominations — or  at  least  the  vastly 
greater  number  of  them — are  presumed  to  have  been  called  after  our  St. 
Brigid.  Here  were  probably  named,  in  honour  of  her,  and  also  dedicated, 
churches,  chapels,  or  religious  institutions.  A  chapel  of  St.  Brigid  was 
within  Cunga  or  Cong  Monastery,  county  of  Mayo,  and  province  of  Con- 
naught.^  This  existed  in  the  seventeenth  century,  and  perhaps  to  a  later 
period.  In  the  city  of  Dublin,  there  is  a  parish,44  and  a  parochial  church, 
dedicated  to  St.  Bridget.^  The  church  is  now  used  for  purposes  of  Protestant 
worship,  and  it  stands  on  the  site  of  a  former  Catholic  church.  Adjoining 
are  the  Protestant  schools  of  St.  Bridget.  There  is  another  parish,  dedicated 
to  St.  Bridget,  in  the  barony  of  Forth,  and  county  of  \Vexfurd.46 

There  was  a  Kill-brigde,  a  chapel  in  the  territory  of  Irnacluiais,*?  in 
Meath  ;  and,  also,  a  Kill-brigde,  in  Ferakeall^  territory,  diocese  of  Meath. 
\  arious  places,  here,  were  under  her  protection.  Kilbride  parish,  is  situated 
partly  in  the  barony  of  Fore,4?  county  of  Meath  ;5->  and.  partly  in  the  barony 
Clonmahoiv1  county  of  Cavan.s2  Kilbride  to\vnland  is  in  this  latter  division.53 
There  is  a  townland  of  Kilbride,54  in  the  parish  of  Nobber,  barony  of  Mor- 


4J  See  William  Monck  Mason's  "  History 
and  Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and  Cathe 
dral  Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dublin," 
book  i.,  chap,  v.,  xi.,  pp.  28,  74,  75,  and 
nn.  ibid. 

41  See  D' Alton's  "  History  of  the  County 
of  Dublin,"  pp.  837  to  841. 

42  According     to     Archbishop      Allen's 
"  Liber  Niger." 

43  See    Colgan,   p.    624.     An   interesting 
account  of  Cong,  with  an  illustration  from  a 
drawing  by  Samuel  Lover,  R.  11.  A.,  will  be 
found    in    Sir    William     Wilde's    "Lough 
Corrib,  its  Shores  and  Islands,  with  Notices 
of  Lough  Mask,"  chap,  vii.,  pp.  145  to  176. 

44  See      "Ordnance     Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Dublin.''     Sheet 
iS. 

45  The  present  parish  of  St.  Bride  consists 
of  a   union  of   three   smaller  parishes,   the 
ancient   St.  Bride's,   St.   Stephen's  and   St. 
Michael  de  la  Pole.      See  that  most  elegant 
and    valuable    hand-book,    so    handsomely 
issued,   "An   Historical  Guide  to  Ancient 
and  Modern  Dublin."      Illustrated  by  en 
gravings,  after  drawings  by  George  Petrie. 
By  the  Rev.  G.  N.  Wright,  A.M.,  pp.  152 
to  154. 

46  See     "  Ordnance     Survey     Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Wexford."     Sheet 
37- 


v  Under  this  form,  it  does  not  seem  to  be 
easy  of  identification.  We  find,  however, 
in  the  "Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick," 
mention  made  of  a  "territory  of  Laeghaire 
of  Bregia  and  Imghae  in  the  territory  of 
Laeghaire  of  Meath." — Miss  Cusack's  "  Life 
of  St.  Patrick,  Apostle  of  Ireland,"  p.  395. 

48  This  is  rendered  by  Dr.  O'Donovan, 
"  Viri  cdlaruin  seu  potius  ecclesiani>n." 
The  name  was  long  preserved  in  Fircal,  now 
known  as  Eglish,  a  barony  in  the  King's 
County  ;  but,  there  is  ample  evidence  to 
prove,  that  Feara-ceall  comprised,  likewise, 
the  baronies  of  Ballycowan  and  Ballyboy,  in 
the  same  county.  See  "  The  Topographical 
Poems  of  John  O'Dubhagain  and  Gioila  na 
Naomh  O'Huiclhrin,"  n.  24,  p.  vi. 

•"  A  great  number  of  ancient  forts  may  be 
seen,  in  this  division  ol  the  parish. 

50  This  is  shown  on  the  ''  Ordnance  Sur 
vey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
Meath."  Sheets  8,  9. 

£I  Several  ancient  forts  are  to  be  found  on 
this  section  of  the  Ordnance  Maps. 

52  This  is  shown  on  the  "  Ordnance  Sur 
vey  Townland    Maps  for    the    County   of 
Cavan."     Sheets  38,  42. 

53  See  ibid.,  Sheet  38. 

54  This  is  shown  on  the  "  Ordnance  Sur 
vey   Townland    Maps    for    the    County   of 
Meath."     Sheets  6,  12. 


I98  LIFE  OF  ST.  £  RIGID. 

gallion,  and  county  of  Meath.  We  find,  also,  a  parish,  called  Kilbridess  or 
Moymet,56  in  the  barony  of  Upper  Navan,  deanery  of  Trim,  and  county  of 
Meath.  It  contains  an  old  church,  venerable  in  its  desolation,  and  mantled 
with  ivy.s?  It  measures  seventy-five  by  sixteen  feet.  At  Iskaroon,s8  there  is 
a  church  and  well  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.  A  cemetery  adjoined  both,  but 
it  has  been  discontinued  as  a  place  of  interment  for  many  past  years.  59  In 
Killare  parish,60  barony  of  Rathconrath,  and  county  of  Westmeath,  deanery 
of  Clara,  and  diocese  of  Meath,  there  are  the  ruins  of  St.  Brigid's  chapel ;  the 
length  was  thirty-three  feet,  by  nineteen  in  breadth.  Two  ash-trees  spread 
over  the  site  of  the  altar.  St.  Bridgid's  Well,  shaded  by  an  ash-tree,  is  also 
pointed  out.  Again,  a  small  chapel,  called  Tigh-Bahrighde,  or  "  Bridgid's 
House,"  stood  on  the  townland  of  Ardnurcher.61  It  has  been  pulled  down, 
however,  and  uprooted.  St.  Bridgid's  Well  is  here,  also,  and  it  is  occasionally 
frequented.62  At  Drumbride,63  parish  of  Drumcondra,6*  and  barony  of  Lower 
Slane,  in  the  deanery  of  Kells,  county  of  Meath,  an  abbey  and  a  church  are  said 
to  have  been  erected  by  St.  Brigid.  On  a  lofty  hill,  portion  of  an  old  church  yet 
remains.  It  is  situated  about  two  miles  north  of  Drumcondra.  The  cemetery  is 
yet  a  favourite  place  of  interment,  for  people  in  the  neighbourhood.65  A  moat 
is  beside  it.  In  the  parish  of  Kilbride,66  barony  of  Dunboyne  and  deanery  of 
Kells,  in  the  county  of  Meath,  there  was  an  old  church,  which  was  pulled 
down,  but  the  cemetery  remains.6?  Near  it  is  St.  Bridgid's  Well.  The  parish 
is  under  her  patronage.  In  it  are  several  fragments  of  way-side  crosses. 
The  beautiful  Lough  Sheelin  lies  near  it,  and  various  islands  there  certify  to 
the  existence  of  ancient  religious  foundations.68  At  Kilbride,6^  a  parish 
situated  in  the  barony  of  Kilcoursey,  King's  County,  a  church  and  convent 
are  said  to  have  been  founded  by  St.  Brigid.  The  people  have  a  tradition, 
that  this  was  the  first  church  erected  by  her,  after  she  became  a  professed 
religious,  on  the  hill  of  Usney.  Some  remains  of  a  chapel  and  of  a  con 
ventual  establishment  are  to  be  seen ;  and,  fragments  of  the  church,  which 
remain  in  the  contiguous  cemetery,  measure  fifty-two  feet  in  length,  by 
twenty-four  in  width.?0  The  parish  of  Oldcastle,?1  in  the  barony  of  Demifore, 


55  A  certain  Mr.  Carey,  in  1657,  was  !i-  mealh.       This    latter    part    is    noted,    on 
censed  to  preach  at  Bride's  parish  to  the  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the 
Irish,  "  once  every  Lord's  day  ;  and  that  he  County   of  Westmeath."      Sheets   24,    31, 
doe  occasionally  repair  to  Trim  and   Atbyc  32,  37,  38. 

(query)  Athboy,  to  preach  as  aforesaid.". —  6-  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's    "Diocese    of 

Very  Rev.  Richard  Butler's  "  Some  Notices  Meath,    Ancient    and    Modern,"    vol.    ii., 

of  the  Castle  and  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Build-  chap,  xix.,  pp.  494,  497. 

ings  of  Trim,  compiled  from  various  autho-  63  Its  position  is  marked,  on  the   "  Ord- 

rities,"  p.  160.  nance    Survey    Townland    Maps    for    the 

56  See  it  marked,  on  the  "  Ordnance  Sur-  County  of  Meath."     Sheet  3. 
vey   Townland    Maps    for    the    County   of  64  See  ibid.     Sheets  3,  6. 

Meath."     Sheets  30,  36.  6=  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's    "Diocese    of 

57  This,  with  the  castle,  is  found  on  Sheet  Meath,    Ancient    and    Modern,"    vol.    ii., 
30.     The  townland  is  called  Kilbride.  chap,  xvi.,  p.  295. 

58  This  denomination,  with  Iskaroon  Little,  6t>  See  it  noted,  on  the    "Ordnance  Sur- 
will  be  found  on  Sheet  30.  vey  Townland   Maps    for    the   County   of 

59  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's    "Diocese    of  Meath."     Sheets  45,  51. 
Meath,     Ancient    and    Modern,"   vol.    ii.,  6?  It  is  shown,  on  Sheet  45. 

chap,  xvii.,  pp.  368,  369.  68  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's    "Diocese    of 

60  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  Meath,  Ancient  and  Modern,"  vol.  ii.,  chap, 
for  the  County  Westmeath."     Sheet  24.  xvi.,  pp.  313,  314. 

61  Ardnurcher    or    Horseleap    parish    is  6*  Its  position   is  defined,  on  the    "  Ord- 
partly  in  the  barony  of  Kilcoursey,  King's  nance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  King's 
County,  and  this  is  shown  on   "Ordnance  County."     Sheets  2,  8. 

Survey  Townland    Maps    for    the    King's  ?°  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's    "Diocese    of 

County,"     Sheet    2  ;     and    partly   in    the  Meath,    Ancient    and    Modern,"    vol.    ii., 

barony   of    Moycashel,     county    of    West-  chap,  xix.,  p.  496. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


199 


county  of  Meath,  was  dedicated  to  St.  Bridgid.?2  The  church  has  been  Ion* 
since  levelled.  In  the  graveyard  are  fragments  of  stone  crosses  and  of 
ancient  tombs.73  A  holy  well  lies  near  the  town  of  Oldcastle,  but  its  patron's 
name  is  not  recorded.?*  (jn  a  hill  called  Carrick-Moile,  in  the  parish  of 
Lickbla,7S  barony  of  Fore,  and  deanery  of  Mullingar,  there  is  a  well  dedicated 
to  St.  Brigid.  Here  stations  used  to  be  held  on  her  festival  day.?6  There 
was  a  church  also  called  Kilbride,  on  the  townland  of  Adamstown  7?  but  only 
a  graveyard  there  remains.?3 

There  was^an  ancient  church  of  St.  Brigid  in  Cork,  close  to  St.  Finbarr's 
Cathedral.  No  vestige  of  the  church  now  remains  ;  but,  an  old  burying- 
ground  is  there,  and,  for  a  considerable  time,  it  had  been  used  by  the  Ana 
baptists,  of  whom  existed  a  few  families.  Now,  these  are  extinct,  or  almost 
so,  m  Cork.  Few  people  in  this  city  knew  of  that  little  graveyard.  We  can 
have  no  doubt,  but  this  church  was  dedicated  to  the  great  St.  Brigid. 79  There 
was,  also,  a  Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  a  chapel,  in  Baile  antobuir  or  Ballintober 
io  in  the  diocese  of  Tuam,  and  province  of  Connaught.81  There  was 
a  Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  near  the  town  of  Fethard,82  in  a  parish  of  the 
same  name,8-*  diocese  of  Cashel,  and  province  of  Munster.8-*  Besides  these, 
Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  or  "  the  cell  of  Brigid,"  a  chapel  in  Kill-luckin 
parish,  diocese  of  Flphin,  and  in  the  territory  of  Siol-Muiredhuigh,8s  rejoiced 
m  the  glorious  abbess  as  special  patron.'6  The  people,  known  by  this  name, 
were  the  O'Conors  of  Magh  Naoi,"?  and  their  correlatives.^  Their  territory 


71  Its  position   is   marked,  on  the   "Ord 
nance    Survey    Townlaml    Maps    for    the 
County  of  Meath. "     Slieets  9,  10,  15. 

72  A  vast  number  of  ancient  forts  lie  with 
in  this  parish. 

7i  See  Rev.  A.  Cogan's  "  Diocese  of 
Meath,  Ancient  and  Modern,"  vol.  ii., 
chap,  xvi.,  ]>.  334. 

74  See  Map^,  Sheet  9. 

73  Its  extent  is  shown,  on  tlic  "  Ordnance 
Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
We>tmeath."     Slieets    I,    2,    3.       Yet    Car- 
rick-Moilc  is  not  noted  within  it,  on  any  of 
those  Maps. 

70  See  Rev.  A.  Cogan'*  "Diocese  of 
Meath,  Ancient  and  Modern,"  vol.  ii.,  chap. 
xviii.,  and  n.  p.  400. 

77  There    are    two    Adamstowns,    in    the 
county  of  \Yestmeath  ;  one,  in  the  parish  of 
Castletownkinclalen   and    barony    of    Moy- 
cashe!,     and    the    other,     in    the    parish    of 
Conry,    and   barony   of   Rathconrath.      See 
"  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the 
County  of  "Westmeath."     Sheets  25,  32. 

78  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's     "Diocese    of 
Meath,  Ancient  and  Modern,"  vol.  ii.,  chap. 
xviii.,  p.  418. 

79  Letter    of    Very    Rev.     Denis    Canon 
MacSwiney,    P.P.,    dated   Feb.    1st,   1872, 
River  View,  Carrigaline,  Co.  Cork. 

&J  There  are  two  townlands  called  Ballin 
tober  East  and  West,  in  the  parish  of  Kilree- 
kill  and  barony  of  Leitrim.  Sheet  98. 
There  is  a  Ballintober,  parish  of  Cummer, 
and  barony  of  Clare.  Sheet  57-  There  is 
a  Ballintober,  parish  and  barony  of  Kilcon- 
nell.  Sheet  86.  Again,  there  is  a  Ballin 
tober,  parish  of  Killallaghtan,  and  barony 


of  Kilconnell.  See  Sheet  86.  "Ordnance 
Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
Gahvay." 

bl  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

82  See  Sheet  70. 

;  The  town  and  parish  so  named  are 
noted,  on  the  "Ordnance  Survey  Town- 
land  Maps  for  the  County  of  Tipperary." 
Sheet  70.  The  parish  is  in  the  barony  of 
Middlethird,  and  in  the  South  Riding  of  the 
county. 

84  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

*'3  The  Siol  or  Sil-Muireadhaigh  descended 
from  Muireadhach  Muilleathan,  King  of 
Connaught,  who  died  in  the  year  701.  See 
Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Topographical  Poems 
of  John  O'Dubhagain  and  Ciolla  na  Naomh 
O'J  luidhrin,"  n.  231,  p.  xxxiii. 

'6'J  See  Colgan,  p.  624. 

'7  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Ros- 
common  and  of  its  vicinity,  when  speaking 
of  the  country  generally,  call  that  district, 
lying  between  them  and  Athlone,  "  the 
Barony,'''  and  that  between  them  and  EI- 
phin,  "the  Magery."  They  say  you  are 
not  in  the  Magery,  until  you  are  two  miles 
and  a-half,  north  of  Roscomraon  town.  See 
Dr.  O'Donovan's  "Annals  of  the  Four 
Masters,"  vol.  iii.,  n.  (h),  p.  87. 

'**  After  the  establishment  of  surnames, 
they  branched  into  various  families  and 
spread  themselves  over  a  considerable  terri 
tory.  These  families  were  the  MacDermots, 
MacDonoughs,  O'Beirncs,  O'Flanagans, 
Mageraghtys,  O'Finaghtys.  Of  all  these 
ancient  clans  or  septs,  the  O'Conors  were 
the  most  powerful.  See  ibid.,  vol.  i.,  n. 
(i),  p.  301. 


200 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


was  known  as  Machaire-Chonnacht,8?  a  large  plain  in  the  county  of  Ros 
common. 9°  Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  in  the  territory  of  Gleanntachuir^1  in 
the  diocese  of  Derry,  and  in  the  Ulster  province,^2  was  dedicated  to  St. 
Brigid.  At  Kilrnactalway,93  about  eight  miles  from  Dublin,  one  of  the 
avenues  from  Castle  Bagot  demesne  leads  to  the  ruins  of  Kilbride  chapel^4 
of  which  mention  has  already  been  more  fully  made,  in  a  previous  chapter. 
Again,  Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  a  chapel,  in  the  parish  of  Bally  an  Chaly — 
a  denomination  now  unknown?3 — diocese  of  Tuam,?6  was  called  after  St. 
Brigid.  There  is  a  townland  of  Kilbride,97  in  the  parish  and  barony  of 
Ross,  county  of  Galway  ;  and,  we  find  a  townland,  called  Kilbride, 9s  in  the 
parish  of  Bright,99  barony  of  Upper  Lecale,  county  of  Down.  These  places 
were  sacred  to  St.  Brigid.  There  are  two  townlands  of  Kilbride,  respectively 
in  the  parishes  of  Aghade  and  Barragh,  both  in  the  barony  of  Forth,  and 
county  of  Carlow.100  There  is  a  Kilbride  townland,101  in  the  parish  of 
Abbeylara,  barony  of  Granard,  and  county  of  Longford.  There  is  a  Kilbride 
townland,102  in  the  parish,  barony  and  county  of  Louth.  There  is  a  Kilbride 
townland,103  in  the  parish  and  barony  of  Burrishoole,  county  of  Mayo.  There 
is  another  Kilbride  townland,104  in  the  parish  of  Mayo,  barony,  of  Clanmorris, 
same  county.  Again,  there  is  a  Kilbride  townland,105  in  the  parish  of  Kil- 
cunduff,  barony  of  Gallen,  and  county  of  Mayo.  There  is  a  townland  of 
Kilbride,  in  the  parish  of  Cloncurry,  baronies  of  Ikeathy  and  Oughterany, 
County  Kildare.105  There  is  a  parish,  called  Pass  of  Kilbride,  in  the  barony 


89  The  following  are  its  bounds,  according 
to  the  general  tradition  of  the  Roscommon 
people.       It   extends  northward    as    far    as 
Lismacooil,  in  the  parish  of  Kilmacumshy  ; 
eastwards,  to  Falsk,  in  the  parish  of  Kil- 
luckin  ;    westwards,    from    the    bridge    of 
Cloonfree,  near  Stokestown  as  far  as  the 
bridge  of   Castlerea ;    and,  southwards,   to 
a  hill,  lying  two  miles  and  a-half,  north  of 
Roscommon  town.     The  natives  of  Baslick 
parish  call  a  hill,  in  the  townland  of  Urisha- 
ghan  in  that  parish,  the  navel  or  centre  of 
the  Machaire,  or  plain  of  Connaught.     This 
conveys  a  distinct  idea,  regarding  the  posi 
tion  of  Magh  Naoi.     See  ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  n. 
(h),  p.  88. 

90  It  lay  between  the  towns  of  Roscommon 
and    Elphin,   also   between    Castlerea   and 
Stokestown. 

91  This  was  formerly  called  in  Irish  T)on'i- 
riAc  5l/irme-coc<iii\.   This  particular  denomi 
nation  is  now  decompounded  and  preserved, 
partly  in  Donough,  the  name  of  the  parish, 
and  partly  in  Glentogher,  otherwise  Carrow- 
more,  an  extensive  mountainous  tract  there 
in.     This  was  the  native  parish  of  our  great 
hagiologist,  John  Colgan.     The  church  was 
founded  by  St.  Patrick,  and  originally  the 
place   was   called   Domnach-mor   Muighe- 
Tochuir.     See  Archbishop  Cotton's  "Visi 
tation    of    the     Diocese    of    Derry,     A.  \>. 
MCCCXCVII."      Edited    by    Rev.    William 
Reeves,  n.  (v),  p.  67. 

92  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

93  See  D' Alton's  "History  of  the  County 
of  Dublin,  "p.  688. 

94  This    Kilbride,   near  Clondalkin,   was 
found  to  have  had  one  cottage  and  one  old 


chapel,  worth  yearly  xu.d.,  according  to 
the  Inquisition  of  38  Henry  VIII.  See 
William  Monck  Mason's  "  History  and 
Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and  Cathedral 
Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dublin,"  c\;c., 
book  i.,  chap.  v. ,  p.  29. 

S3  Or,  at  least,  not  noticed,  on  the  Ord 
nance  Survey  Maps. 

96  See  Colgan,  p.  624. 

9?  See  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Galway."  Sheets 
13,  26. 

98  See     "  Ordnance     Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Down."     Sheet  45. 

99  This  church  stood  in  a  field,  now  known 
as  "Church  Park,"  about  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  S.Wr.  of  Killough.     It  was  razed  in 
1830,    and  little  trace  of  it  now  remains. 
See  Rev.  Dr.  Reeves'  "Ecclesiastical  Anti 
quities  of  Down,  Connor  and  Dromore,"  n. 

(t),  P-  34- 

100  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Carlow.''     Sheets 
17,  1 8. 

101  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Longford."     Sheet 
u. 

102  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Louth."      Sheet 
ii. 

103  See    "Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Mayo."     Sheet  68. 

104  See  ibid.     Sheets  90,  91,  101. 

105  See  ibid.     Sheets  62,  72. 

106  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Kildare."     Sheet 
4- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


201 


of  Fartullagh,  County  Westmeath.10?  There  is,  also,  as  a  separate  denomina 
tion,  the  parish  of  Kilbride,  in  the  same  barony.108  On  the  townland  of 
Kilbnde,I09  it  seems  likely  a  church  to  St.  Brigid  had  been  erected.  Already 
have  we  noticed,  in  a  previous  chapter,  the  parishes  and  townlands,  called 
Kilbride,  in  the  counties  of  Dublin,  Wicklow  and  Wexford. 

It  seems  likely  the  following  places  were  named  after  her  : — The  Chapel 
Cill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  in  Kildare  deanery  and  diocese,  province  of  Lein- 
The  town  of  Kildare,  in  the  middle  of  this  diocese,  is  surrounded 
immediately  by  the  deanery  so  named.111  There  is  a  parish  of  Kilbride,  in 
the  barony  of  Tirawley,  county  of  Mayo  ;112  a  townland  in  it  bears  the  same 
name.11-  There  is  a  townland,  called  Kilbride,11*  in  the  parish  of  Lea, 
barony  of  Portnahinch,  Queen's  County.  There  is  a  parish  of  Kilbride,  iii 
the  barony  of  Ballycowan,  King's  County  ;»s  a  townland  of  the  same  de 
nomination  lies  within  it.1'6  A  very  extensive  parish,  lying  within  the 
baronies  of  Ballintober  South  and  of  Roscommon,  in  the 'county  of  Ros- 
common.  is  denominated  Kilbride.11?  In  the  barony  of  Ballintober  North, 
in  the  parish  of  Kilmore,  and  in  the  same  county,  there  is  a  townland  called 
Kilbride.118  Kill-brigde  major,  or  Kilbride  the  greater,11?  and  Kill-brigde- 
minor,  or  Kilbride  the  lesser,120  parish  churches  of  Limerick  diocese,  in 
Minister,  were  dedicated  to  St.  IJrigid.131  Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,  some 
times  called  Temple  Brigid,  was  a  chapel  in  Armagh  city  and  diocese,  pro 
vince  of  Ulster.122  To  this,  allusion  has  been  more  fully  made,  in  a  previous 
chapter.15  Kill-brigde  major,  or  Kilbride  the  greater,  a  parish  church,  and 
Kill-brigde  minor,  or  Kilbride  the  lesser,  a  chapel,  in  Maglacha124  district, 
diocese  of  Ossory,  honoured  St.  Brigid  as  their  special  patroness.125  There 
is  a  townland  and  parish  of  Kilbride,  barony  of  Ida,  in  the  county  of  Kil 
kenny.120  There  is  also  a  townland  of  Kilbride,  in  the  parish  and  barony  of 
Callan,  in  the  same  county.12?  There  is,  in  addition,  a  Kilbride  Glebe  there.128 
Ik-sides  these,  we  find  a  Kill-brigde, "9  or  Kilbride,1^  a  parish  church,1'1  in 


'"7  See  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  nf  Westmeath." 
Sheets  27,  33,  34. 

I0t!  See  ibid.     Sheets  26,  33. 

1119  See  ibid.     Sheet  33. 

""  See  Colgan,  p.  624. 

111  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."  Appendix 
Quinta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigida.1,  cap.  i.,  p.  628. 

113  See     "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Mayo."     Sheets  7, 
14. 

'3  See  ibid.     Sheet  7. 

114  See   it  noted,   on    "Ordnance   Survey 
Townland  Maps  for  the   Oueen's   County." 
Sheets  4,  5,  8,  9. 

us  ^ee  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  Kind's  County."  Sheets  8,  9, 
1 6,  17,  25. 

16  See  Sheet  16. 

117  See     "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps    for    the    County    of    Roscommon." 
Sheets  28,  29,  35,  36,  39,  40. 

118  See  ibid.     Sheet  n. 

"9  Now  called  Kilbreedy  major,  in  the 
baronies  of  Coshlea  and  Smallcounty,  shown 
on  the  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps 
for  the  County  of  Limerick."  Sheets  39, 
40,  48. 

120  Now  called  Kilbreedy  minor,  in  the 
barony  of  Coshma,  shown  on  the  "Ord 


nance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County 
of  Limerick."     Sheet  47. 

IJI  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 
•2  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

121  It  was  near  the  old  Catholic  chapel 
still  used. 

124  This  was  a  plain,   in   the   barony  of 
Kells,  and   county  of  Kilkenny.      See   Dr. 
O'Donovan's     "Topographical    Poems    of 
John  O'Dubhagain  and   Giolla  na  Naomh 
O'Huidhrin,"  n.  500,  p.  Ix. 

125  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

1:6  See  the  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Kilkenny. "  Sheets 
36,  40,  41.  The  townland  is  shown,  on 
Sheets  40,  41. 

IJ7  See  ibid.     Sheet  26. 

128  See  ibid.  In  the  diocese  of  Ossory, 
Catholic  chapels  and  localities,  having  St. 
Brigid  as  patroness,  are,  Kilbride,  in  Agha- 
boe  parish,  Ballycallan,  Attanagh,  Kilbride, 
near  Callan,  Kilbree,  Kilbride,  in  Glenmore 
parish,  and  Lisdowney.  See  "  Statuta  Dio- 
cesis  Ossoriensis  edita  Kilkennice  in  Synodo 
Diocesana  Die  8  Junii,  1873,"  pp.  23  to 
29. 

'-9  A  Kilbride  North  and  a  Kilbride 
South,  as  townland  denominations,  are  to 
be  found  here. 

130  This  parish  extension  is  shown,  on  the 


so2  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


the  barony  of  Middlcthird,  and  in  the  deanery  of  Kill-mcathain,  diocese  and 
county  of  Waterford,  and  province  of  Minister.  Kill-brigde,  or  Kilbride,132 
a  townland,133  and  a  parish  church, T34  near  the  town  and  in  the  comity  of 
Antrim,  in  the  barony  of  Upper  Antrim,1-15  in  the  diocese  of  Connor  and 
province  of  Ulster.  In  the  same  county  is  the  townland  of  Kilbride,  parish 
of  Doagh  Grange,136  barony  of  Upper  Antrim.13?  At  the  Glen  of  Kilbride, 
fourteen  miles  or  so  from  Dublin,  and  bordering  on,  perhaps  in,  the  county 
of  Wicklow,  there  is  a  small  church  of  Kilbride.  Allusion  has  been  already 
made  to  this  place.  The  Catholic  Church  here,  and  attached  to  the  parochial 
union  of  Blessington,  is  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid. 

The  following  churches  and  chapels  were  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  in  the 
barony  of  Forth,  county  of  Wexford,  about  the  year  1680.  In  the  parish  of 
Rathaspoke,  and  in  that  of  Kilscoran,  were  her  churches  ;  while,  she  had 
chapels  at  Sladd,  a  townland  in  the  latter  parish,  as  also  at  Trummer.138 
This  foregoing  account  is  supposed  to  have  been  furnished,  by  a  priest,  for 
the  purpose  of  illustrating  Sir  William  Petty's  Maps ;  and,  it  purports  to 
describe  more  at  length  the  barony  in  question,  with  the  dispositions  and 
customs  of  its  people.  I39  Kilbrideglynn  parish,140  barony  of  Shelmaliere 
West,  and  county  of  Wexford,  has  a  Tempull  Cille-Brighde  old  graveyard 
within  it.  Kilnahue  parish, I4'  barony  of  Gorey,  and  county  of  Wexford,  has 
a  Kilbride  Church  and  graveyard,  within  it.  Not  far  from  Carrigaline,  in 
the  County  Cork,  there  was  a  Tempull  Brigde.142  Some  old  ruins  are  yet  to 
be  seen  there,  and  a  holy  well  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid  rises  near.  This  was 
resorted  to  by  the  people,  for  the  purpose  of  offering  devotions,  on  the  day 
of  her  festival.  The  custom  has  not  yet  entirely  died  out.143  The  ancient 
church  was  on  the  summit  of  a  high  hill,  right  over  the  sea,  and  a  modern 
Protestant  church  now  occupies  the  site.  It  is  a  notable  land-mark  for  ships, 
as  it  stands  at  the  entrance  of  Cork  Harbour.  WTe  find  a  Templum  S.  Brigidce, 
Templebride,  or  Teampull  Bride,144  in  Rosfinnglass  village,  Hy-Regain  terri 
tory.145  To  this,  as  Rosenallis,  allusion  has  been  already  made.  Tempull- 
Brigde,146  Templebride,  or  Teampull  Bride,14?  a  chapel  in  the  parish  of  Kill- 
choirin,148  diocese  of  Tuam.I49  Again,  there  is  a  Templum  S.  Brigidce,  Tem- 

"  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  I4°  See  its  extent,  on  the  "  Ordnance  Sur- 

County  of  Waterford."     Sheets  17,  26.  vey    Townland    Maps   for   the   County    of 

131  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  Wexford."     Sheets  36,  37,  41,  42. 

132  The  parish  boundaries  and  extent  are  "-1  See  its  dimensions,  on  the  "Ordnance 
shown,   on  the    "  Ordnance    Survey  Town-  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
land    Maps    for    the    County    of    Antrim."  Wexford."     Sheets  2,  5,  6,  7,  II. 

Sheets  44,  45,  51.  I4L>  It  is  now  called  Templebreedy,  in  the 

133  See  ibid.     Sheets  45,  51.  barony    of    Kerrycurrihy,    East    Riding   of 

134  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  Cork.    Its  position  is  marked,  on  the  "  Ord- 
133  In  1605,  it  was  found  in  an  Inquisition,        nance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County 

that  Kilbride  was  a  parish,  in  the  Tuogh  of  of  Cork."     Sheet  99. 

.Moylinny,  consisting  of  thirteen  townlands.  I43  Information  communicated  in  a  letter, 

The  old  churchyard  is  in   the  townland  of  from  Very  Rev.   Denis  Canon    M'Swiney, 

Kilbride.     See  Rev.  Dr.  Reeves'  "  Ecclesi-  P.P.,    Carrigaline,    Co.     Cork,    Feb.     1st, 

astical  Antiquities  of  Down,    Connor  and  1872. 

Drornore,"  n.  (c),  p.  64.  144  This  denomination  is  not  marked  on 

136  See  ibid.,  n.  (1),  p.  67.  the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

I3?  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland  I43  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

Maps  for  the  County  of  Antrim."      Sheet  I46  Latinized,    by    Colgan,     "  Templum 

45.  Brigidoe." 

138  See   "Journal    of   the   Kilkenny  and  I4?  This  denomination  is  not  to  be  found 

South-East  of   Ireland  Archaeological   So-  noted,  on  the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps,  at 

ciety."     New   series,    vol.    iv. ,   part  i.,   pp.  present. 

66,  68,  and  notes  (3,  4),  ibid.  I4S  By  this  name,  it  does  not  appear  on  the 

135  This  paper  has  been  edited,  by  Herbert  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 
F.  Hore.  ^  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


203 


plebridc,  or  Teampull  Bride/^a  parish  church  in  Waterford  city  and  diocese.1^ 
We  find  a  Templum  S.  Brigidce,  Templebride,  or  Teampull  Bride,^2  a  parish 
church,  within  the  deanery  of  Claonadh,  or  Clane,  diocese  and  county  of 
Kildare.  I53  Templum  S.  Brigidce,  Templebride,  or  Teampull  Bride, ^4  a 
chapel  in  the  parish  of  Domhnach  Padruig,  or  Donogh-Patrick,1"  diocese  of 
Tuam.J56  Besides  the  foregoing,  there  is  a  Templum  S.  Brigidce,  Temple- 
bride,  or  Teampul  Bride,1^  a  chapel,  in  the  parish  of  Athenry,^  diocese  of 
Tuam,159  and  county  of  Gal\vay. 

Rath-brigde,l6°  or  Rathbride,161  a  chapel  in  Tully  parish,  barony  of  Offaly 
East,  Kildare  county  and  diocese,  is  likely  to  have  been  named  after  St. 
Brigid.  Rath-brigde,  or  Rathbride,162  a  parish  church,  in  Feraceall  or  Fear- 
call  territory,163  diocese  of  Meath,16-*  as  also  Rath-brigde,  or  Rathbride,l65  a 
cha])el,  in  Kiennachta  territory,166  now  the  barony  of  Keenaght,167  in  the 
county  and  diocese  of  Deny,163  are  probably  called  after  our  saint. 

Tegh-Brigde,  l69  which  may  be  Anglicized,  '•  the  house  of  Brigid,"  was  a 
chapel,  in  the  territory  of  Kinel-Fiachra,1"0  Westmeath  county.  It  was  probably 
so  denominated,  because  some  religious  institute  had  been  there  erected,  by  or 
in  honour  of  this  holy  abbess.  Tegh-Brigde,  in  the  territory  of  Moenmoya, 
afterwards  called  Claim  Riocaird,'71  when  the  De  Burgos  possessed  it,  after 
the  Anglo-Norman  invasion.17-  This  Kilbride  is  probably  identical  with  a 
place,  in  the  parish  of  Abbeygormacan,  barony  of  Leitrim,  and  county  of 
Gahvay.17-5  There  was,  also,  a  Tegh-Brigde,  a  parish  church,  in  the  territory 
of  Siol  Anmchadha/71  diocese  of  Clonfert.173  In  addition,  the  parish  church 
of  Enach-brigde,1?6  in  the  diocese  of  Clonfert,  was  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid. '77 


l'-a  This  denomination  is  not  marked  on 
the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

151  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

^-  This  denomination  is  not  so  noted,  on 
the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

J5i  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

J54  This  denomination,  at  present,  is  not 
to  be  found  on  the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

'55  Now  Donaghpatrick,  in  the  barony  of 
Clare.  See  "Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Galway."  Sheets 
28,  42. 

J3°  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

'=7  This  denomination  is  not  noticed  on 
the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

•s8  This  large  parish  lies  in  the  baronies 
of  Athenry,  Clare  and  Dunkellin.  See  its 
extent,  on  ''Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Galway."  Sheets 
57,  70,  71,  83,  84,  95,  96. 

'5J  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

160  Latinized,  by  Colgan,  "arxaut  burgum 
Brigidnj,"  p.  625. 

161  This  townland  is  shown,  on  "Ordnance 
Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 
Kildare."     Sheets  17,  18,  22,  23. 

l6-  This  denomination  cannot  be  found,  at 
present,  on  the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

l6'  It  is  said  to  have  comprehended  the 
baronies  of  Ballycowen  and  Ballyboy,  the 
country  of  the  O'Molloys,  in  the  King's 
County.  See  Harris'  Ware,  vol.  ii.,  "The 
Antiquities  of  Ireland,"  chap,  vii.,  sect,  i., 
p.  49. 

164  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

165  This  denomination,  at  present,  is  mis 


sing  from  the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps. 

ly6  See  John  O'Donovan's  account  of  it, 
in  the  "Dublin  Penny  Journal,"  vol.  i., 
No.  13,  p.  103.  It  was  called  by  this  name, 
so  early  as  the  year  590. 

167  See  some  interesting  notices  of  it,  in 
Rev.  Alexander  Ross's  "  Statistical  Account 
of  the   Parish  of  Dungiven,"    in    William 
Shaw    Mason's     "  Statistical    Account    or 
Parochial  Survey  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  No. 
xiv.,  pp.  321,  322. 

168  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

169  Latinized,  by  Colgan,  "  axles,  sen,  do- 
mus  Brigida;,"  p.  625. 

170  It  comprised  the  countries  of  O'Molloy, 
now  in  the  King's  County,  and  of  Mageo- 
ghegan,   now  the  barony  of  Moycashel,   in 
Westmeath,  and  it  extended  originally  from 
Birr    to    the    Hill   of    Uisneach.       See   Dr. 
O'Donovan's    "Annals  of  the   Four  Mas 
ters,"  vol.  i.,  n.  (e),  p.  166. 

171  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

I?-  Its  bounds  enlarged  or  diminished  with 
tiie  fortune  of  wars.  "However,  the  main 
parts  of  it  comprehended  the  six  baronies 
of  Clare,  Dunkcllcn,  Longlirca,  Kiltartan, 
A//itwyand  Ldtrini." — Harris'  Ware,  vol. 
ii.,  "Antiquities  of  Ireland,"  chap,  vii., 
sect,  i.,  p.  52. 

'"  See  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Gal  way."  Sheet 
1 06. 

*74  Or  Ui-Anmchadha,  a  sept,  occupying 
the  barony  of  Longford,  county  of  Galway, 
and  the  parish  of  Lusmagh,  King's  County, 
and  east  of  the  River  Shannon.  See  Dr. 


204 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG1D. 


Although  not  recognisable,  through  denomination  or  derivation,  yet  the 
following  parishes  and  localities  are  thought  to  have  been  placed  under  the 
patronage  of  the  illustrious  abbess  of  Kildare.  Druim-dubhain,  alias,  Drum- 
damhain,  a  parish  church,1?8  belonging  to  the  diocese  of  Elphin,  and  within 
the  territory  of  Tir-Oilill,1^  now  Tirerrill  barony,  in  the  county  of  Sligo. 
The  parochial  denomination  seems  obsolete.  Kill-Salach,  a  parish,  belonging 
to  the  diocese  of  Elphin,  and  in  the  territory  of  Airtheach.l8°  This  latter 
was  comprised  in  the  parish  of  Tibohine,181  in  Frenchpark  barony,  and 
county  Roscommon.  Kill-hiomann,  a  parish  church,182  belonging  to  the 
diocese  of  Elphin,  and  in  the  territory  of  Magluirg  or  Moylurg.  This  district 
was  comprised  within  Boyle  barony,183  county  Roscommon.  Killgeuian,  or 
Kilgefin,  a  parish  church,18*  in  the  diocese  of  Elphin,  and  within  the  territory18^ 
and  deanery  of  Tuatha.  It  lay  to  the  west  of  Lough  Ree,  towards  its  northern 
part.186  Kill-mhic-Eogain,  or  Ivilmacowen,18?  a  parish  belonging  to  the  diocese 
of  Elphin,  in  the  territory  of  Cairbre,188  which  is  now  known  as  the  barony 
of  Carbury,  County  Sligo.  Dysart,l89  Latinized  Desertum,  a  parish  church,1?0 
in  the  diocese  of  Elphin,  territory  of  Tirmhaine,1?1  barony  of  Athlone,  and 
province  of  Connaught.  Ballintobber,1?2  a  parish  church,  in  the  diocese  of 
Elphin,  province  of  Connaught. T93  Besides  the  foregoing,  the  monastery  or 
convent  of  Malach,  or  Moylagh,194  for  nuns  of  the  Augustinian  order,  was 
situated  in  the  diocese  of  Lismore,  and  county  of  Tipperary.1?3  It  is  in  the 
baronies  of  Offa  and  Iffa.  A  chapel,  formerly  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  in  the 
diocese  of  Ross,1?6  is  said  to  have  been  placed  in  a  churchyard,  near  a 
romantic  salt-water  lake,1??  known  as  Lough  Hyne,  or  Ine,1?8  in  the  south  of 
Cork  County.  A  curious  pillar  stone  remains  there. '99 


O'Donovan's  "Topographical  Poems  of 
John  O'Dubhagain  and  Giolla  na  Naomh 
O'Huidhrin,"  p.  xlv.,  n.  350. 

175  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

176  It  seems  difficult  to  identify  it  by  this 
denomination  at  present. 

177  See  Colgan,  p.  624. 

178  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

179  See  O'Flaherty's  "  Ogygia,"  pars  iii., 
cap.  Ixxix. ,  p.  374. 

180  See  Coigan,  p.  625. 

181  See   "  The  Topographical    Poems  of 
John  O'Dubhagain  and  Giolla  na  Naomh 
O'Huidhrin."     Edited  by  Dr.  O'Donovan, 
n.  253,  pp.  xxxv.,  xxxvi. 

I8i  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

183  For  a  very  complete  account  of  this 
division  of  Roscommon,  the   reader  is   re 
ferred  to  John  D' Alton's  "  History  of  Ire 
land  and  Annals  of  Boyle,"  vol.  L,  pp.  167 
to  283. 

184  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

185  This  district  was  composed  of  the  divi 
sions,  Tir-Briuin-na-Sinna,    Cinel-Dobhtha, 
and  Corca-Each-lann.  See  Dr.  O'Donovan's 
"  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol.  iii.,  n. 
(d),  p.  86. 

IS-'  See  its  position  denned,  on  the  map 
prefixed  to  the  "  Tribes  and  Customs  of  Hy- 
Many."  Edited  by  Dr.  O'Donovan. 

187  gee    «  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps  for  the  County  of  Sligo."     Sheets  14, 
19,  20. 

188  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 


189  See    "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland 
Maps    for    the    County   of   Roscommon." 
Sheets  47,  48,  50. 

190  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

191  Probably  intended  for  Hy-Many,  and 
for  information  regarding  it,  Dr.  O'Donovan 
has  edited  for  the  Irish  Archaeological  So 
ciety,  that  interesting  tract,    ' '  The  Tribes 
and  Customs  of  Hy-Many,  commonly  called 
O'Kelly's  Country,"  A.D.  MCCCXLIII.      A 
Map,  with  its  ancient  Irish  denominations 
in  the  native  characters,  is  prefixed. 

192  Noted  as  a  rectory,   on  Rev.  D.   A. 
Beaufort's   "New  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical 
Map  of  Ireland." 

193  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

194  See  Archdall's  "  Monasticon  Hiberni- 
cum,"  p.  669. 

195  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

195  See  its  position  marked  on  Rev.  D.  A. 
Beaufort's  "New  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical 
Map  of  Ireland." 

197  "On  an  islet  near  its  centre  stand  the 
ruins  of  a  castle,  which  was  formerly  the 
secluded     and     romantic    fastness    of    the 
O'Driscolls."  • —  "  Parliamentary   Gazetteer 
of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  299. 

198  Interpreted  "  the  deep  lake."     It  lies 
south  of  Skibbereen. 

199  See  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall's  "Ireland  :  its 
scenery,  character,"  &c.,  vol.  i.,   pp.    136, 
137.     The  descriptive  matter  is  illustrated 
by  an  accompanying  wood-engraving. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


In  addition  to  the  places  named  are  these  following.  Kill-rossinty,  or 
Kilrossanty,200  a  parish  church,  in  the  barony  of  Decics  without  Drum',  be 
longing  to  the  diocese  of  Lismore.201  and  county  of  Waterford.  It  had  been 
dedicated  to  St.  Erigid.  Nor  was  our  holy  abbess  undistinguished  from 
other  great  Irish  Saints,  in  the  septi-partite  group  of  churches  having  her  as 
patroness.  For,  at  the  great  bend  of  the  River  Suir,  near  Ardfinnan  and 
Newcastle,  County  Tipperary,  there  is  a  place,  called  Molough  Ehridge,  or 
"  Lrigid's  Molough."  It  is  said,  that  there  were  no  less  than  seven  churches 
or  chapels  there,  at  one  time,  and  that  these  were  dedicated  to  St.  Erigid. 
The  chieftain  of  the  Decies  probably  had  a  residence  there,  or,  at  least,  he 
had  a  property.70-  Slieve  g-Cua,  near  it,  is  mentioned  in  the  Eook  of  Rights. 
It  is  in  the  parish  of  Tooraneena,  county  of  Waterford. 20J  In  Kill-dara,20*  a 
parish  church,  of  Tuam  diocese,  in  the  territory  of  Costelach,  province  of 
Connaught,  St.  Brigid  was  patroness.  It  is  different  from  Kildare,  in 
Leinster.20=  Uruim-na  bfcadh,206  a  parish  church,  belonging  to  the  diocese 
of  Tuam,  alias,  Elphin,  in  the  county  of  Roscommon, province  of  Connaught. 2°7 
Eesides,  in  Killchuanna,  or  Kilcoona,203  a  parish,  in  Clare  barony  and  Galway 
county,  diocese  of  Tuam,  and  province  of  Connaught,20^  a  church  had  been 
erected  to  St.  Erigid. 

The  following  ancient  wells  were  dedicated  to  St.  Ericle,  within  the  city  and 
county  of  Dublin.  In  a  court,  off  Bride-street,  is  her  spring,  now  covered 
by  a  pump.  Between  the  ivied  ruins  of  St.  Margaret's  and  Dunsoghly  Castle, 
an  ancient  well,  dedicated  to  St.  Erigid,210  is  surrounded  by  a  battlemented 
wall.2"  At  St.  Margaret's,  near  Finglas,  there  is  a  tepid  spring,  and  it  is 
called  St.  Erigid's  Well.  At  Clondalkin,  there  is  a  well  dedicated  to  her. 
Here,  also,  there  is  a  fine  round  tower  in  good  preservation.2'2  At  Swords, 2I-> 
seven  miles  north  from  Dublin  Castle,2'4  and  near  the  ancient  nunnery,  a 
well  of  St.  Brigid  was  to  be  seen.  Again,  at  Clonskeagh,21*  there  is  a  well  of 
St.  Brigid.  At  the  Valley  of  Diamonds,  near  Bray,  there  is,  likewise,  a  well 
of  St.  Brigid.  At  Castleknock,  there  was  a  well  called  after  her.  We  are 
not  sure  if  it  yet  exists.  The  place  derives  its  name  from  an  old  castle, 
built  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  on  a  hill.210  Again,  it  is  stated,  on  verbal 
authority,  that  there  is  a  well,  dedicated  to  St.  Bride,  near  the  ruins  of  the 
old  Black  Castle,  on  the  sea-shore,  not  far  from  Wicklow  town.21?  The  well 
is  in  a  very  out-of-the-way  place.  In  Killisk  parish,213  barony  of  Ballagh- 


"-'  It  is  marked  on   the   "Ordnance  Sur-  County  of  Dublin.''     Uy  John   S.    Sloane, 

\ey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of  \Va-  C.E.,  p.  219. 

tcrford.''     Sheets  14,  15,  23,  24,  31,  32.  2"  This  was  built  by  a  Sir  John  Plunkett. 

-Jl  See  Colgan,  p.  62 >  2I-  See  Joseph  Archer's  "Statistical  Sur- 

•'"-  See    Rev.    Dr.    Kelly's    "Calendar   of  vey  of  the  County  of  Dublin,"  chap,  v.,  sec. 

the  Irish  Saints,"  p.  134.  i.,  p.  88. 

-°>  Information   contained   in  a   letter    of  ;ii  See  an  account  of  this  ancient  place, 

Rev.  David  H.  Mulcahy,  Portglcnone,  dated  in  John  D' Alton's   "  History  of  the  County 

December  iSth,  1875.  of  Dublin,"  pp.  26910297. 

-'"*  This  denomination  is  not  found  on  the  "I4  See  Joseph  Archer's  "  Statistical  Sur- 

Ordnance  Survey  Maps.  vcy   of  the   County   of  Dublin,"'   chap,    v., 

205  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  sec.  i.,  p.  96. 

™e  j}y  th;s  tjtiC;  t]10  parish  does  not  ap-  2'5  Sec  John  D'Alton's   "  History  of  the 

pear  on  the    Ordnance    Survey   Townland  County  of  Dublin,"  p.  808. 

Maps  of  Ireland.  -I(J  See  Joseph  Archer's  "Statistical  Sur- 

-'-'?  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  vey  of  the  County  of  Dublin,"  chap,   v., 

08  Its  extent  is  shown,  on  the  "Ordnance  sec.  i.,  p.  88. 

Survey  Townland   Maps  for  the   County  of  -'7  For  the  foregoing  list,  I  feel  indebted 

Galway,"     Sheets  42,  56.  to    Mrs.    Anastasia   O'Byrne,   authoress    of 

-09  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  "The  Saints  of  Ireland." 

=10  see  «  irisn  Literary  Gazette,'1  vol.  i.,  -l8  See  its  extent  defined,  on  the  "Ord- 

>*o.    xiv.      "Antiquarian   Rambles  in  the  nance     Survey    Townland    Maps    for    the 


LIFE   OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


keen,  and  county  of  Wexford,  St.  Brigid's  Well  may  be  seen.  At  Kilscoran 
parish, 219  in  the  barony  of  Forth  and  county  of  Wexford,  there  is  a  St. 
Brigid's  Holy-Well.  The  pattern  was  formerly  held  on  St.  Brigid's  day. 
This  parish  is  supposed  to  have  had  her  as  the  patroness.  Besides  this,  at 
Rosslare  parish,220  barony  of  Forth,  and  county  of  Wexford,  a  holy  well, 
called  after  St.  Braagh  (Brathoach) — said  by  the  people  to  be  no  other  than  St. 
Brigid — is  to  be  found.  Again,  there  is  a  Toberbride,  or  Brideswell,  in  the 
parish  of  Ballysadare,  and  barony  of  Tirerrill.221  We  find  mention,  too,  of 
Tobar-Brigde,  near  Cuilmuine,  in  the  county  of  Sligo.222  St.  Brigid's  Well, 
at  Rostyduff,  a  snug  little  place  under  Keadeen  mountain,  in  the  county  of 
Wicklow,  had  a  "  patron,"  which  used  to  be  held  in  the  early  part  of  this 
century,  on  the  ist  of  February.223  There  is  a  Tobar-Brigde,  in  the  village 
of  Ballintobber,  and  county  of  Roscommon.22*  There  is  another  Tobar- 
Brigde,225  in  the  territory  of  Maincach.  A  Tobar-Brigde,  in  the  county  of 
Longford,  near  the  town,  and  in  the  diocese  of  Ardagh,226  appears  to  have 
been  named  after  St.  Brigid.  In  Killila  parish,22?  barony  of  Ballaghkeen, 
and  county  of  Wexford,  was  St.  Brigid's  Well.  A  pattern  was  held  on  ist 
of  February,  at  this  spot.  We  have,  also,  learned,  that  at,  or  near,  Kil- 
cock,  in  the  county  of  Kildare,  a  patron  used  formerly  be  held  at  Bride's 
Well,  on  the  ist  of  February.  Stations  were  there  performed.  In  the  town- 
land  of  Ballincurrig,  parish  of  Buttevant,  and  county  of  Cork,  St.  Brigid's 
Well  may  be  seen.  A  large  ash-tree  hangs  over  it,  and  it  is  popularly  called 
Biddy's  Tree.  No  special  "  pattern"  or  honour  to  the  patroness  is  now  paid, 
at  this  spot.228  However,  "  rounds  "  or  stations  still  take  place  there.  In 
Hy-Kinsellagh,  province  of  Leinster,  there  was  a  well,  bearing  the  name 
Tobar-Brigdhe,  and  another  in  Tuam.22^  Both  of  these  springs  were  much 
resorted  to,  when  the  feast-day  of  St.  Brigid  occurred.  There  is  a  Tober 
bride  or  Brideswell,  in  the  parish  of  Dunleeney,  barony  of  Idrone  East,  and 
county  of  Carlow.230  A  celebrated  spring,  known  as  "  Bride's  Well,"  had 
been  much  frequented  on  the  feast  of  St.  Brigid :  it  flowed  from  the  side  of 
a.  circular  mound,  about  two  miles  and  a-quarter,  north-west  from  Kilcock, 
in  the  deanery  of  Trim,  and  county  of  Meath.  An  ash-tree  spreads  its 
branches  over  the  stream.  The  diameter  of  the  well  is  over  twelve  feet. 
Nearly  all  the  females  of  this  neighbourhood  bear  the  name  of  their  patron 
saint.231  Besides  the  foregoing,  there  was  a  reputed  miraculous  well  of  St. 
Brigid,  on  the  estate  of  Cornelius  O'Brien,  Esq.,  of  Birchfield,  in  the  county 
of  Clare.  This  well  contained  a  large  eel,  and  eleven  smaller  ones,  which 
appeared  periodically,  according  to  a  popular  tradition.232  Its  waters  were 
remarkably  clear  and  cool,  but  they  were  never  used  for  domestic  purposes. 


County  of  Wexford."     Sheets  26,  27,  32,  --'3  Latinized  by  Colgan,  "fons  ErigkUc," 

33-  P-  ^25- 

-1'  It  is  included,  in  the  "  Ordnance  Sur-  :~6  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

vey   Townland    Maps   for    the   County   of  -^  See    its    delineation,    on    "Ordnance 

Wexford."     Sheet  48.  Survey  Townlands  Maps  for  the  County  of 

2-°  Its  bounds  are   contained,  within  the  Wexford."     Sheets  27,  33. 

"  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  :28  Information    communicated    by    Mr. 

County  of  Wexford."     Sheets  38,  43,  48.  Denis    A.     O'Leary,    Kilbolane     Cottage, 

-'See     "Ordnance     Survey    Townland  Charleville,  April  1 7th,  1875,  to  the  writer. 

Maps  for  the  County  of  Sligo."     Sheet  26.  229  See  Colgan,  p.  625. 

2-z  See  Colgan,  p.  625.    "  =3°  See    it   marked,    on  the    "Ordnance 

223  See    an    article,    "  Uonoughmore    in  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the   County  of 

Omayle,"byJ.  F.  S.,  in  "The  Irish  EC-  Carlow."     Sheet  16. 

clesiastical  Record,"  vol.  xii.,  No.  cxxxiv.,  2jl  See    Rev.    A.    Cogan's    "Diocese  of 

p.  134.  Meath,    Ancient    and    Modern,"   vol.    ii., 

"4  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  chap,  xvii.,  p.  361. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRTGID. 


The  well  was  a  famous  ^resort  for  pilgrims,  especially  for  those  hoping  to 
have  cures  effected.  Whoever  was  fortunate  enough  to  see  the  eels  was 
instantaneously  cured.  Through  O'Brien's  lawn,  free  access  to  the  well  was 
easily  obtained.  Popular  tradition  has  it,  that  the  water  was  desecrated  on 
one  occasion.233  Immediately  it  removed  during  the  night  to  a  great  dis 
tance.  A  member  of  the  O'Brien,  family,  to  commemorate  a  miraculous 
cure,"3-*  had  a  beautiful  wall  built  around  St.  Brigid's  Well.  The  enclosure 
was  elegantly  planted,  and  the  place  was  even  "furnished  with  stables,  for 
the  accommodation  of  pilgrims. 

Some  ancient  religious  institutions  were  under  her  patronage.  A  hermitage 
was  dedicated  to  St.  Bride,  by  the  Knights  Hospitallers  of  Kilmainham.  It 
was  situated  near  Waterford.  Again,  at  Carrickfergus,  there  was  an  hospital 
for  lepers.  The  adjoining  lands  are  yet  called  the  Spiral  Fields.  The 
hospital  was  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.  At  the  north  side  of  Carrickfergus,  a 
spring,  called  St.  Bride's  Well,  marks  the  site  of  an  hospital,  also  dedicated 
to  St.  Brigid.  We  find  an  hospital  for  lepers  was  dedicated  to  St.  Erigid,  in 
the  town  and  parish  of  Dungarvan,-'^  barony  of  Decies  without  Drum, 
situated  within  the  diocese  of  Lismore,2;6and  county  of  Waterford.  Besides, 
there  was  an  hospital  for  lepers,  within  the  diocese  and  town  of  Lismore,~J7 
province  of  Munster,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.2--  She  seems  to  have  been  the 
peculiar  patroness  of  such  afflicted  persons. 

There  are  various  localities  or  objects,  named  from  St.  Bride,  in  the 
county  of  Dublin.  Among  these  we  find:--  In  the  ancient  church  of  St. 
Mochua,  at  Clondalkin,  one  of  its  three  altars  was  dedicated  to  her.239 
Bride's  Glen,  near  Cabinteely,  eight  or  nine  miles  from  Dublin  ;  the  River 
Bride,  a  tributary  to  the  Liffey.  is  thought  to  derive  its  name  from  Ireland's 
great  patroness;  Kilbride  .Manor,  near  the  (lien  of  Kilbride,  which  borders 
on  Sally  Gap,  near  the  source  of  the  Liffey,  is  called  after  her  ;  while,  the 
demesne,  called  St.  Brigid's,  at  Clonskeagh,  or  Roebuck,  is  said  to  derive  its 
name  from  her.'-'-*0  Also,  the  Breeda  or  .Bride  River,  is  a  tributary  of  the 
Lee,241  in  the  county  of  Cork.  The  Abbey  of  Kilcrea,2-*2  occupies  a  retired 


i2  The  matter  of  this  and  of  the   stibse-  ~v  The  united   parishes  of  Lismore  and 

quenl  narrative  was  communicated  by  Rev.  Mocollop    arc   situated,    partly    within    the 

J ).  1!.  Mulcahy,  in  a  h-tter,  headed  Lough  county  of  Cork,  in  the   barony  of  Condons 

Cill,  North  Antrim,  2nth  April,  1875.  and  Clangibbon,  as  shown   on    the   "  Ord- 

J!  It  happened,  that  O'Hrien  had  a  large  nance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County 

dinnerparty,  and   in  the    hurry  of  prepara-  of  Cork,"  .Sheets  36,  37  ;  and,  partly  with- 

tion,  one  of  the  servants  took  water  to  boil  in  the  county  of  Waterford,  in  the  baronies 

potatoes  from  this  well.      The   dinner   was  of  Coshmore  and   Coshbride,  as   shown   on 

late.      O'lirien  enquired   the  cause.      The  the  "  Ordnance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for 

potatoes   he   found   were   not  boiled.     The  the  County  of  Waterford,"  Sheets   II,  12, 

lire  was  stirred   and   blown   under,  but  the  19,  20,  21,  28,  29,  34. 

servants  blew  to  no  purpose.      As  a  last  re-  -1;3  Sec  Colgan,  p.  625. 

sort  the  pot  was  examined,  when  lo  !  there  ~n  See  William   Monek  Mason's   "  His- 

was  found  one  of  the  younger  ells.     It  was  tory  and  Antiquities  of  the  Collegiate  and 

reverently  taken   back  to   the   well,   and   a  Cathedral  Church  of  St.  Patrick,  near  Dub- 

solemn  admonition  was  given  to  the  servants.  lin,"  <!vc. ,  book  i.,  chap,  v.,  p.  27. 

This  was  unnecessary,  for  that  night  the  well  -4"  For  the  foregoing  list,  I  am  indebted 

disappeared.  to  Mrs.  Anastasia  O'Byrne. 

"'4  He  lay  ill  in  London,  and  his  life  was  -4I  See  John   Windale's    "Historical  and 

despaired   of,  by  several   doctors.     Yet,  he  Descriptive  Notices  of  the  City  of  Cork  and 

had  some  water  procured  from  St.  Brigid's  its    vicinity  ;    Gougann-Barra,     Glengariff, 

Well,  which  at  once  restored  him  to  health.  and  Killarney, "  p.  257. 

235  See     "  Ordnance    Survey    Townland  L'4-  Sec  an  admirable  account  of  its   style 

Maps  for  the  County  of  Waterford."    Sheets  and  history,  at  pp.  259  to  270,  ibid.     Two 

30,  31,  35,  36.  engravings   of    the   ruins  are   there   to   bo 

2-s6  See  Colgan,  p.  625.  seen. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


and  a  beautiful  situation,  on  a  green  bank  along  it,  and  at  the  extremity  of  a 
long  valley,  which  stretches  several  miles  to  the  west.  It  was  dedicated  to 
St.  Bridget,243  and  probably  its  River  Bride  was  called  after  her.  In  addi 
tion,  we  may  observe,  there  is  a  very  curious  object,  called  St.  Brigid's 
Stone,244  to  be  seen  at  Killinagh,  near  Bantry,  in  the  county  of  Cork. 
This  is  a  five-holed  Bullaun  rock,  containing  oval-shaped  stones  in  each 
cavity.245  We  find  a  Saint  Brigid's  Chair,  at  Lough  Berg.  There  is  an  old 
monument,  inscribed  with  a  cross,  in  the  churchyard  of  Kilbride,  county  of 
Wicklow.246  There  is,  also,  an  old  stone,  with  several  incised  crosses,  found 
at  Faughart  old  church,  county  Louth.24?  This  is  called  St.  Brigid's 
Stone,  owing  to  some  supposed  association  with  her. 

Several  modern  churches,  chapels,  and  religious  institutes,  have  St.  Brigid 
as  patroness.  The  new  parochial  church  of  Kilcullen,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  has  been  dedicated  to  her.  In  addition,  as  has  been  stated,  Kildare 
town  has  a  Catholic  church  and  a  nunnery,  under  her  protection.  Through 
out  the  diocese  of  Kildare  are  other  religious  edifices,  holding  her  as  the 
patroness  ;  but,  it  is  to  be  regretted,  a  complete  list  of  her  Irish  churches 
and  chapels  cannot  be  known.248  The  Catholic  church  of  Kilbride,  parish 
of  Dunganstown,  not  only  occupies  the  site  of  a  very  ancient  church  dedicated 
to  our  saint,  but,  it  yet  rejoices  in  her,  as  its  special  patroness.  Near  the 
old  church  ruins24^  and  churchyard  of  Kilbride,  not  far  from  Blessington,  a 
Catholic  chapel,  in  the  village,  has  been  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid. 

The  new  Catholic  church  near  Carrigaline,  county  of  Cork,  has  been 
dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.  About  half  a  mile  from  old  Temple  Brigde,250  and 
separated  from  it  by  a  valley,  in  which  lies  St.  Brigid's  Well,  the  new  erection 
overlooks  the  village  of  Crosshaven.251  It  is  beautifully  placed,  at  the  con 
fluence  of  the  rivers  Ownboy  and  Lee — a  spot  of  which  Callanan,  the  poet 
sings, 

"  Where  calm  Avon  Buee  seeks  the  kisses  of  Ocean."  "S2 

The  church  is  over  100  feet  long  by  forty-eight  wide.  It  consists  of  nave, 
chancel,  aisles,  clerestorey,  tower,  sacristy,  and  porch.  Built  in  the  Gothic 


•4i  A    beautiful   poem,    intituled,    ''The  Fourth  series,  July,  1875,  No.  23,  pp.  459, 

Monks  of  Kilcrea,"  alludes  to  this  founda-  460. 

tion,   and  to  its  hospitable  inmates  during  246  There  is  a  rough  drawing  of  it,  among 

mediaeval  times  : —  G.  V.  du  Noyer's  "  Antiquarian  Sketches" 

preserved  in  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  ISo. 

"  T\v;is  common  then  77,  vol.  i. 

For  pilgrims  to  flock  to  St.  Brigid's  shrine.  -47  See  /«</.,  Xo.  78. 

So   they  placed    on  the   table    pitchers    of  L'43  It   would   be   very  desirable,   that  our 

wine,  "  Irish  Catholic  Directory,  Almanack,  anil 

Game  from  the  mountain  and  meat  from  the  Registry"  contained  the  patron  saints'  names 

pen.  of  our  parishes,  churches,  chapels  and  reli 
gious  houses.     By  a  rightly  directed  effort, 

— Fytte   II.,   stanza   i.       Also,   n.    (a),   p.  the  information  could  readily  be  obtained, 

151.  by  the  editor  or  publisher. 

244  A  very  remarkable  and  venerated  well,  249  These  scarcely  rise  above  the  earth  at 

dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  and  lately  covered  present. 

by   a   stone   building,    may   be   seen  close  -*°  Now  known  as  Templebreedy. 

by.  =SI  See  it  represented,  on  the  "Ordnance 

"45  See  a  fuller  account  of  it,  with  an  il-  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  of 

lustration,  in  William  F.  Wakeman's  paper,  Cork."     Sheet  99.      It  is   in  the  parish  of 

"On   Certain   Markings  on   Rocks,    Pillar  Templebreedy,  and  barony  of  Kerrycurrihy, 

Stones,    and    other   Monuments,    observed  East  Riding  of  Cork  county. 

Chiefly  in  the  County  Fermanagh."— "Jour-  !5-'  See  "The  Poems  of  J.  J.  Callanan," 

nal  of  the  Royal  Historical  and  Archaeolo-  p.  67. 
gical    Association    of    Ireland,"    vol.    iii. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  B  RIGID. 


209 


decorated  style,  its  windows  have  geometric  tracery.     The  chancel  window 

[ghts,  the  western  one  is  spherico-triangular.     At  the  eastern  and 

western  ends  of  aisles  are  spherical  windows,  and  there  are  also  side  chancel- 

jsides  the  western  entrance,  the  tower  serves  as  a  porch,  and  it  is 

ced  ior  effect  on  the  north  side,  a  little  higher  up  than  midway,  and  it 

•e  the  great  entrance  usually.     The  aisles  are  separated  from  the  nave 

by  rows  of  circular  red  marble  columns,  with   Bath-stone  caps  for  carving 

I  he  church  is  all  built  externally  of  limestone-ashlar,  while  the  windows  and 

dressings  are  finely  chiselled.25      AS  yet,  the  tower  has  only  reached  its  lower 

tory,  but  the  other  portions  of  this  fine  building,  internally  and  externally, 

have  nearly  reached  completion.25-* 


1 1   far  tut  <ur  fr  tin  fflt  ft  ft  .ft  ft  fr  fa  &  fr  1\ 


Church  of  the  Assumption,  of  St.   Michael,   of  St.  Patrick,  and  of  St.  Brigid,  Wexford. 

The  beautiful  new  Church  of  the  Assumption,2^  King's-street,  Wexford, 
has  also  been  dedicated  to  St.  Michael,  St.  'Patrick,  and  St.  Bridget,  as  joint 
patrons.256  The  grounds,  on  which  the  new  church  stands,  are  in  part  on  the 
site  of  the  ancient  cemetery,  attached  to  St.  Brigid's  old  church,  which,  ac 
cording  to  local  tradition,  formerly  stood  there.23?  An  adjoining  street  is 
called  Bride-street,  at  the  present  time,  and  its  name  seems  to  have  been  de 
rived  from  the  early  ecclesiastical  structure  to  which  it  led. 


253  Communication  from  Very  Rev.  Denis 
Canon  M'Swiney,  P.P.,  headed  River  View, 
Carrigaline,  Co.  Cork,  dated  Feb.  1st, 
1872. 

~54  Communication  from  Very  Rev.  Denis 
Canon  M'bwiney,  dated,  January  51!), 
1876. 


53  The  first  stone  was  laid  June  27th, 
1851.  This  church  was  opened  for  public 
worship,  April  iSth,  1858. 

5'J  The  accompanying  engraving  of  it,  by 
Mrs.  Millard,  was  executed  after  a  photo 
graph,  locally  prepared  in  Wexford. 

25?  Human  remains  have  been  disinterred 


LIFE  OF  ST.  £  RIGID. 


The  Sisters  of  Mercy  Convent,  Rathdrum,253  county  of  Wicklow,  has  been 
dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  by  permission  of  his  Eminence  Cardinal  Cullen.2S9 
This  appears  from  the  parish  registers. 

After  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  a  religious  community  of 
Brigitine  nuns  was  established  in  Ireland.  This  is  a  most  useful  institute, 
for  the  peculiar  wants  of  our  country  •  and,  it  has  been  in  highly  successful 
operation,  from  the  very  commencement  of  its  inauguration.  The  first  con 
vent  of  St.  Brigid  was  founded  in  Tullow,  county  of  Carlow,  by  the  Right 
Rev.  Dr.  Delany,  Bishop  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin,  on  the  ist  of  February, 
1807,  as  also,  the  Convent  of  St.  Brigid,  in  Mountrath,  on  the  iSth  of  April, 
1809.  Besides  these,  the  Convent  of  Tullow  has  sent  out  two  affiliations, 
one  to  Abbeyleix,  in  the  Queen's  County,  A.D.  1842,  and  one  to  Goresbridge, 
County  Kilkenny,  A.D.  1858.  Of  late,  another  branch  has  been  established 
at  Paulstown,  not  far  from  the  latter  place,  and  within  the  same  county.  All 
of  these  houses  are  situated  in  the  diocese  of  Leighlin.  The  Brigitine  nuns 
have  adopted  a  constitution  and  rules,  which  tend  greatly  to  promote  charity, 
piety,  and  religious  knowledge,  in  every  parish,  where  their  institute  has  been 
established.  They  gain  over  many  of  the  humble  people  to  a  life  of  peni 
tence.  Holding  lighted  tapers  in  their  hands,  they  make  a  solemn  declara 
tion  and  dedication  of  themselves,  on  each  feast  of  St.  Brigid.26c  This  order 
has  been  established  for  educational  purposes,  and,  it  has  three  schools  in 
constant  operation,  under  each  community ;  a  poor  school,  a  benefit  school, 
and  a  boarding-school.  The  teaching  of  poor  children  and  adults  on  Sundays 
and  holy  days,  in  the  parish  church  to  which  their  convent  belongs,  is  a  special 
rule  of  this  order.261 

The  house  and  chapel  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Faith,  at  Glasnevm, 
diocese  of  Dublin,  are  under  the  patronage  of  St.  Brigid.  In  the  beginning 
of  1857,  a  Ladies'  Association  of  Charity,  under  the  zealous  and  self-denying 
Miss  Aylward,  had  been  formed  to  rescue  from  proselytism  Catholic  children 
exposed  to  danger.  An  admirable  system  was  adopted,  for  placing  these 
with  Catholic  families,  until  they  could  be  educated  and  provided  with  means 
for  earning  an  honest  livelihood.  St.  Brigid  was  chosen  as  patroness  of  this 
good  work.  When  the  orphanage  was  begun,  no  one  dreamt  of  establishing 
a  new  community  to  take  charge  of  it.  On  the  contrary,  great  efforts  were 
made  to  avoid  anything  of  the  sort :  but,  Providence  made  use  of  those  very 
efforts  to  accomplish  His  will.  After  some  trials  and  much  labour,  two  or 
three  ladies  associated  themselves,262  to  examine  cases  of  proselytism  tc 
rescue  those  orphans  in  greatest  danger  of  losing  the  faith,  to  make  clothes 
for  them,  and  to  superintend  their  rearing  and  education.  This  little  seed, 
cast  upon  the  earth  by  a  seeming  accident,  took  root  and  grew, 
ciates  in  1867  numbered  twenty-two.  These  ladies  are  united  by  the  sacred 
bonds  of  religion,  under  the  title,  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Faith.2^  The  Cardinal 

there,  when  improvements  were  effected  in  P.P.,  granted  May  3<Dth    1869.  _ 
the  entourage  of  the  new  church,    which,  *°  See  "The  Life  of  St.  Brigid,  "by  an 
with  its  twin  sister,  the  Church  of  the  Im-  Irish  Priest,  chap,  xui.,  pp.  l»4  to  lf>7- 
maculate  Conception  and  of  St.  John  Bap-  =6<  Much  of  the  foregoing  information,  re 
list,  has  been  erected  by  the  respected  parish  garding    the    Brigitine    Nuns,    was    kindly 
priest   Very  Rev.  James  Canon  Roche,  as  communicated,  by  the  Superioress  of  Mount- 
enduring  monuments  of  his  indomitable  la-  rath  Convent,   Sister  Mary  J.  Peter  Stem, 
bour  and  pious  zeal  for  the  greater  glory  of  in  a  letter,   addressed  to  the  writer,  A.I). 
God  *  ^6. 

*58  The  extent  of  this  parish,  in  the  barony  62  In   the   house  No.    42   Eccles-street, 

of  BalHnacor  North,  is  shown  on  the  "  Ord-  Dublin. 

nance  Survey  Townland  Maps  for  the  County  ^  See :  "  Eleventh  Annual  Report  of  S. 

of  Wicklow."     Sheets  24,  29,  30,  35-  B»gld  s  Orphanage  for  Five  Hundied  Chil- 

=59  At  request  of  Rev.  Richard  Galvm,  dren,    p.  8,  A.D.  1567. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


211 


is  greatly  fostered  and  aided  this  institute,  sanctioned 
x  -  ins  IX.  His  Eminence,  finding  that  the  house  in 
Kcdes-street  ivas  too  small  for  the  sisters  that  taught  in  their  schoo"  sen" 
^ .  1°  T CMd  the  rfdigi,OUS  LadieS  °f  the  S-^  Heart,  in  Glasnevt  Con- 
.f:^SfrJaES°f,!his  h,m'-.w-  -°"  Quired  The 


£  *  •  •  T  ated-   Jt  1S  not  to°  much  to  say> 

-  AlmS.  A  TI    f?6'  a;.Glasncvin>  is  one  of  those  spots,  fashioned  by 
.  Almighty  Architect  for  religious  exercises.-*     The  River  Tolka  separates 
convent  grounds  from  the  charming  Botanical  Gardens.**     The  whole 
:ene  is  redolent  of  literary,  patriotic,  and  above  all,  of  religious  associations. 
ln  ™c  '  great  abbess,  the  orphanage  of  St.  Brigid  was  founded, 

igh  her  influence  and  prayers  it  has  nourished.     During  the  past 
.c  een  years,  this  noble  institute  has  saved  from  proselytism  the  immense 
number  of  one  thousand   three    hundred   and   seventy  Catholic   orphans, 
therwise,  humanly  speaking,  these  should  have  been  lost  to  the  Church 
Under  her  influence  also,  the  schools  of  the  Holy  Faith  have,  so  to  speak, 
from  the  orphanage  ;  and,  as  a  matter,  almost  of  necessity,  to  take 
.rge  oi  these  works,  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Faith  have  grown  up,  a  new 
amily,  in  the  Church.     Besides  managing  the  orphanage,  these  ladies  have 
:en  schools,  with  a  daily  attendance  of  one  thousand  four  hundred  poor 
t  must  seem  a  strange  thing,  that  the  former  grounds  and  resi- 
f  a  distinguished  Protestant  Bishop  of  Kildare  should  become  the 
Brigid,  Patroness  of  Kildare.     In  truth,  it  appears  to  be  the 
St.  Brigid  s  work— within  two  short  miles  of  the  General  Post 
ce,  Dublin,  and  yet  the  situation  is  completely  rural.     Here,  those  Sisters 
Holy  I-aith,  that  teach  the  poor  schools  in  the  lanes  of  the  city,  can 
t  evening  to  breathe,  and  acquire  strength  and  buoyancy  for  their 
1  here  is  no  harder  strain  on  mind  and  body,  than  the  daily  toil 
Here,  it  shall  please  God,  a  band  of  apostolic  teachers  can  be 
lined  to  defend  the  faith  of  poor  children,  and  impart,  with  knowledge,  a 
love  of  virtue.     Here,  then,  St.  Brigid;s  spirit  will  rest,  and  religious  teachers 
likely  to  grow  up  under  her  patronage.     These  good  ladies  will  devote 
hemselves  to  the  instruction  and  sanctification  of  poor  children,   in  the 
capital  of  holy  Ireland ;  hereafter,  their  mission  may  extend  to  more  distant 
places. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

CHURCHES  AND  RF.Ur.iQUS  INSTITUTES  DEDICATED  TO  SI'.  BRIGID,  IN  THE  BRITISH 
ISLANDS,  IN  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  TIMES,  AS  ALSO  ON  THE  CONTINENT  OF 
EUROPE,  AND  IN  AMERICA — FESTIVALS,  COMMEMORATIONS,  OFFICES,  HYMNS, 
RELICS,  USAGES,  AND  POPULAR  MEMORIALS,  REFERRING  TO  HER — CONCLUSION. 

IN  England,   Wales  and  Scotland,  as  also  in  minor  islands  around  their 
coasts,1  the  fame  and  virtues  of  St.  Brigid  had  spread,  even  from  very  re- 

4  Much  of  the  foregoing  and  succeeding  from  the  earliest  accounts  to   the   present 

information  was  kindly  communicated  to  the  time,"  &c.,  as  compiled  by  J.  Warburton, 

writer,  by  Miss  Ayhvard,   the  Lady  Supe-  Rev.   J.    Whitelaw,  and    the   Rev.    Robert 

rioress,  and  foundress  of  the  Sisters  of  the  "Walsh,  are  some  interesting  views,  with  a 

Holy  J'aith.  very  complete  description  of   the    Botanic 

>  bee    "  Ninth    Annual   Report  of  St.  Gardens,  at  Glasnevin.     See  vol.   ii.,  pp. 

Brigid's  Orphanage  for  Five  Hundred  Chil-  1279  to  1304. 

dren,"  p.  20,  A.  D.  1865.  CHAPTER  xvn.— x  See  "  Martyrologium 

"°  lu  the  "  History  of  the  City  of  Dublin,  Anglicanum,"  ad  I.  Februarii. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


mote  times.2  Many  parts  of  England  had  churches  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.3 
In  the  city  of  London,  Fleet-street,  St.  Bride's  Church  was  celebrated  in  old 
Catholic  times,  nor  has  the  parochial  designation  yet  disappeared.  This 
church  was  extant  in  the  seventeenth  century.  A  very  elegant  spire  sur 
mounts  the  present  Protestant  church  ;  but,  it  had  been  injured  by  lightning, 
in  1805.4  Near  its  site,  Fleet-street,  London,  in  the  fourteenth  century  and 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  stood  the  palace  of  St.  Bride.  It  had  been 
built,  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Bride's  Well.  It  is  supposed,  the  present  Bride 
well  occupies  this  site.  Edward  III.  had  a  daughter,  named  Brigid,  who 
became  a  nun.s  At  Glastonbury,  as  we  have  already  observed,  a  St.  Brigid 
was  venerated  at  the  ist  of  February  ;  however,  it  is  thought,  she  must  have 
been  different  from  our  holy  abbess,  and  that  her  real  festival  may  have  been 
assigned  incorrectly  to  the  present  date.6  In  the  litany  of  the  very  ancient 
church  of  Salisbury,  Wiltshire,  her  name  was  specially  invoked.  There  is  a 
parish,  called  Kirkbride,  in  the  Isle  of  Man.  The  only  nunnery  in  the  same 
place  was  called  after  St.  Brigid.  It  is  said  to  have  been  founded  by  our 
holy  virgin,?  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixth  century.8  It  lay  near  Douglas, 
beside  the  river,  in  a  beautiful  situation,  and  its  prioress  was  anciently  a 
baroness  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  She  held  courts  in  her  own  name,  and 
possessed  authority  equal  to  a  baron. 9 

Several  places  in  Scotland,10  especially  nearest  to  Ireland,  and  subjected  to 
Irish  influences,11  are  enumerated,  as  having  been  under  our  saint's  patronage. 
Among  those  are  the  Hebrides,  anciently  called  Bride's  or  Brigid's  Islands, 
as  has  been  thought  from  our  St.  Bride.12  Excluding,  perhaps,  the  nuns  at 
Kildare,  no  others,  excepting  the  inhabitants  of  those  western  isles,  dedicated 
more  churches  to  her.  Thus,  their  veneration  was  expressed  and  perpetuated.13 
The  Hebrideans  imagined,  however,  that  her  remains  reposed  at  Abernethy,^ 
the  Pictish  capital.  When  the  Scots  annexed  the  Pictish  ^territories  to  their 
own,  they  paid  a  singular  homage  to  the  relics  of  St.  Brigid,  in  Abernethy.15 
We  are  told,  one  of  the  Hebrides  was  called  after  her,  and  specially  deno- 

-  John    Macpherson,    evidently  no   great  arii.      We  have   already  shown  how   this 

admirer  of  St.  Brigid,  writes  :"  The  several  mistake  originated. 

divisions  of  .Britain  concurred  very  zealously  8  The  Manx  think,  she  received  the  veil 

with    Ireland,    the    country   that    gave   her  of    virginity    from    St.    Maughold,     fourth 

birth,  in  treating  her  character  with  a  most  bishop  of  their  island. 

superstitious  respect."— "Critical  Disserta-  9  See  George   Woods'  "Account  of  the 

tions  on  the  Origin,  Antiquities,  Language,  Past  and  Present  State  of  the  Isle  of  Man, 

Government,  Manners  and  Religion  of  the  book  i.,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  112,  113. 

Ancient    Caledonians,    their    posterity    the  I0  See  Rev.   Thomas   Lines'    "Civil  and 

Picts,    and  the    British    and    Irish    Scots."  Ecclesiastical    History  of  Scotland,"  book 

Dissertation  xv.,  p.  239.  ii.,  p.  128. 

3  So  states  the  English  Martyrology,  when  "See   Bishop   Forbes'    "  Kalendars    of 
alluding  to  St.  Brigid,  at  the  ist  of  Febru-  Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

aly.  I2  See  John  Macpherson's  "  Critical  Dis- 

4  See    CasselFs     "Illustrated    Guide  to       sertations  on   the  Origin,  Antiquities,  Lan- 
London."     The   Churches  of  London,  p.       guage,  Government,  Manners,  and  Religion 
132.     London,  1862,  8vo.  of  the  Ancient  Caledonians,  their  posterity 

s  Much  of  the  foregoing  information  was  the  Picts,  and  the  British  and  Irish  Scots." 
kindly  communicated  by  a  talented  lady,  Dissertation  xv.,  p.  240.  _  ^ 
Mrs.  AnastasiaO' Byrne,  living  in  Ranelagh,  I3  Ibid.,  p.  239.  Also,  Hector  Boetms 
near  Dublin,  and  quite  conversant  with  the  "  Scotorum  Histories,  a  prima  Gentis  On- 
traditional  and  historic  lore  of  her  country.  gine,"  lib.  ix.,  p.  158. 

6  See    Colgan's    "  Trias    Thaumaturga."  I4  See  an  account  of  it,  in  Mackenzie  E.G. 

Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap.  Walcott's  "  Scoti-Monasticon  :  The  Ancient 

xv.,  p.  624.  Church  of  Scotland,"  pp.  316,  317. 

y'The  Manx  have  a  tradition,  that  she  IS  See  Hector  BoetW  '_'  Scotorum  His- 

lived  for  some  time  in  their  island.      See  torice,  a  prima  Gentis  Origine,"  lib.  ix. 
"  Martyrologium  Anglicanum, "  I.   Febru- 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


mmated  Bngidiana.'6  Indeed,  throughout  the  whole  west  and  sou'h  of 
Scotland,1?  veneration  towards  her  was  unbounded.  St.  Bride  was  the  patron 
saint  of  the  noble  family  of  Douglas,13  and  they  invoked  her  help  on  all  im 
portant  occasions. >a  The  church  of  Douglas  also  bears  her  name.20  Her 
temples  among  the  Hebrideans  were  more  numerous  than  such  as  had  been 
erected  to  any  of  their  other  saints.21  Among  well-known  Scottish  localities, 
a  scarped  upburst  of  trap-rock  out  of  the  surrounding  red  sand-stone,  and 
not  far  from  the  Laws,1'2  in  Lorfarshire,  is  known  as  St.  Bride's  Ring,  at  Kin- 
genny.23  The  Church  of  St.  Brigide  de  Blacket  is  noticed,  in  the  Chartulary 
of  Holyrood.2-*  The  Church  of  St.  Brigid  of  Kype  is  mentioned  in  the  Char 
tulary  of  Kelso  ;25  and  in  that  of  Glasgow,2'3  the  Church  of  Vn'ntcrtonugcn,  in 
Valle  de  Xiht.2?  In  Aberdeenshire,  we  have  St.  Bride's  Rock,  at  Tomantoul. 
"He  find  St.  Bride's  Church,  at  Cushnie,28  at  Crochaul,1-'  at  Kildrummlc,3° 
and  at  Skene.31  In  Lanarkshire,  there  is  a  place,  called  Last  Kilbride, 
about  seven  miles  from  Glasgow.32  Its  ancient  church  belonged  to  the 
bishops  of  that  city.33  Likewise,  there  is  a  remarkable  enclosed  barrow, 
which  occupied  the  summit  of  one  of  the  Cathkin  hills,  in  the  parish  of 
Kilbride.-;4  An  interesting  account  of  this  parish  has  been  written. 33  We 
learn,  also,  that  St.  Bride  was  honoured  at  Auchtergaven,  and  at  the  romantic 
Blair  Athol,3°  in  Perthshire,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Drtimalban.37  Again, 
a  church  was  consecrated  to  St.  Brigid  at  Dunnottar,  A.D.  i394,3S  according 
to  Bishop  Lorbes.3'J  Besides  the  foregoing,  St.  Bride's  Chapel  and  burn  are 

16  See  Mrs.  Anastasia  O'Byrne's  "  Saints 
of  Ireland."     February  i.,  p.  15. 

17  Macpherson   says   he   has    "reason    to 
suspect,  that   the   western  isles  of  Scotland 
were,  in  some  one  period   or   other  during 
the  reign  of  popery,  put  under  the  particu 
lar  protection  of  St.  Bridget,  and   perhaps 
in  a  great  measure  appropriated   to  her." — 
"  Critical  Dissertations  on  the  Origin,  An 
tiquities,  Language,  Government,  Manners, 
and   Religion  of  the  Ancient  Caledonians, 
their  posterity  the  Picts,  and  the  British  and 
Irish  Scots."     Dissertation  xv. ,  p.  240. 

15  In  connexion  with  the  family  of  Dou 
glas,  we  read  the  following  lines,  in  reference 
to  their  great  patroness  : — 


"  The  folk  upon  the  Sonounclay 

Held  to  Saynct  Bridis  Kyrk  thair  way  ; 

And  thai  that  in  the  Castell  war 

Ischyt  owt,  both  les  and  mar, 

And  went  thair  palmys  for  to  ber." 
—  "The  Bruce  ;  or,  The  Metrical  History 
of  Robert  I.,  King  of  Scots,"  by  Master 
John  Barbour,  Archdeacon  of  Aberdeen. 
liuke  Fcyrd,  11.  335  to  339,  vol.  i.  .Edited 
by  John  Jamieson,  D.  D. 

l'J  See  Cosmo  limes'  "Sketches  of  Early 
Scottish  History  and  Social  Progress," 
chap,  i.,  pp.  137,  138. 

--'See  Bishop  Forbes'  "Kalendars  of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  291. 

-1  See  Hector  Boetius'  "  Scotorum  His 
toric,  a  prima  Gentis  Origine,"  lib.  ix.,  p. 
I5S. 

22  The  word  "Law  is  an  Anglo-Saxon 
prefix  or  suffix,  signifying  an  isolated  hill  or 
mount,  generally  of  a  conical  form.  See 
"  The  Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scotland,"  vol. 


11.,  p.  305. 

23  See    Bishop    Forbes'    "Kalendars    of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

24  See    Bishop    Forbes'    "Kalendars    of 
Scottish    Saints,"   p.    291.       lie   quotes  p. 
42,  and  again  at  p.  57,  St.  Brigule's  of  Lou- 
blacket  is  recorded. 

"5  1'agt:  153- 

:0  One  of  the  most  complete  and  satisfac 
tory  of  modern  historical  works  is  "The 
History  of  the  City  of  Glasgow,"  by  Rev. 
Dr.  J.  F.  S.  Gordon. 

27  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "Kalendars  of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  291. 

L8  See  "  View  of  the  Diocese  of  Aber 
deen."  Collections  for  the  History  of  the 
Shires  of  Aberdeen  and  Banff.  Spaulding 
Club,  p.  593. 

'-'•>  Ibid.,  p.  642. 

30  Ibid.,  p.  589. 

31  Ibid.,  p.  279. 

3-  See  "  Xew  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land,"  Lanark,  p.  877. 

33  See  "The  Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scot 
land,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  188. 

34  See  Daniel  Wilson's  "  Archeology  and 
Prehistoric  Annals  of  Scotland,"  chap,  iii., 

PP-  55,  56,  /I- 

33  L're's  "HistoryofRutherglenanclK.il- 
bricle." 

3'J  See  an  account  of  this  parish  in  "The 
Imperial  Gazetteer  of  Scotland,"  vol.  i., 
pp.  172,  173. 

37  See  "  New  Statistical  Survey  of  Scot 
land."     Perth,  p.  426. 

38  Seejervise's  "Memorials  of  Angus," 
p.  448. 

3'J  See  "Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints," 
p.  291. 


214 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


to  be  seen,  at  Kilbarchan,  in  Renfrewshire/0  Again,  there  is  a  spring  of  St. 
Bride,  at  Traquair/1  Also,  we  find  St.  Brigid's  or  Bride's  Spring  at  Dunsyre 
in  Lanarkshire/2  There  is  a  Kilbride,  in  Lorn,«  This  wildly  beautiful  dis 
trict  of  Argyleshire44  is  said  to  have  derived  its  name  from  Labhrin  or  Loarn/s 
Also,  St.  Bride's  Chapel  and  Well  were  at  Beath  in  Ayrshire/6  Here 
there  is  a  parish  called  Kilbride/?  The  lands  of  S.  Brydehill,  in  Dumfries 
shire,'*8  are  noted,  in  the  Retours/9  There  is  a  Kilbride,  in  Arran.  There 
is  a  Kilbride,  in  Cromarty.  There  is  a  Kilbride,  in  Uist.s°  St.  Bride  had 
a  chapel  at  Rothesay^1  a  royal  burgh,  in  Bute.s2  In  the  parish  of  Kilmoire, 
in  Bute,"  a  convent  had  been  erected  to  St.  Bride.54  There  was  a  St.  Bride's 
Church,  at  Kirkcolm,ss  at  Kirkmabreck,  in  Wigtonshire.55  This  is  situated, 
on  the  western  side  of  Lough  Ryan,  entering  Stranraer.  The  dedication  of 
St.  Bride  is  found  in  the  Lewes,57  at  Borve.s8  Besides  this,  at  the  remote 
Orcadians?  extremity  of  Scotland,  St.  Bride's  dedication  is  found  in  Stronsay 
and  Papa,60  in  the  Orkney  Islands.61  There,  our  saint  is  associated  with  St. 
Nicholas.62  Again,  the  Church  of  St.  Brigid,  in  the  province  of  Athol,  was 
reputed  as  being  famous  for  miracles.63  We  are  told,  that  fairs  were  held  in 
St.  Bride's  honour,  at  Forres  and  Inverness.6*  We  read,  in  the  Retours,65 
about  St.  Brigid's  Chapel,  at  Clackmannan,66  where  it  is  mentioned.6?  Other 
churches  and  religious  houses,  dedicated  to  her  in  North  Britain,  might  pro 
bably  be  enumerated. 

On  the  continent  of  Europe,  the  cultus  of  this  illustrious  abbess  was  ob 
served  by  the  faithful,  in  various  countries,     It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  no 


40  See  "New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land,"  No.  53,  pp.  354  to  366. 

41  See    Bishop    Forbes'    "  Kalenclars    of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

42  See  "  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  66. 

«  See  "Old  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  826. 

44  See  an  account  of  it  in  "  The  Imperial 
Gazetteer  of  Scotland,"  vol.   ii.,  pp.  374, 
375. 

45  He  emigrated  from  Ireland,  and  estab 
lished  a  dynasty  among  the  south-western 
Picts  in  the  year  503.     He  is  said  to  have 
ruled   there  ten   years.      See  O'Flaherty's 
«  Ogygia,"  pars  iii.     Scotise  Regum  Cata- 
logus  Chronologico-Genealogicus,  p.  4/0. 

46  See  "New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land."     Ayr,  p.  581. 

4?  See  a  very  complete  and  an  interesting 
account  of  the  parish  of  Kilbride,  in  Ayr 
shire,  to  be  found  in  George  Robertson's 
"Topographical  Description  of  Ayrshire; 
more  particularly  of  Cunninghame  :  together 
with  a  Genealogical  Account  of  the  princi 
pal  families  in  that  Bailiwick,"  pp.  114  to 
145. 

48  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "  Kalendars  of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

4?  See  Dumfries,  No.  212. 

5°  See  "  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land,"  No.  27,1. 

51  See  "  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land."     Bute,  p.  103. 

52  See  a  description  of  it,  in  ' '  The  Tourists' 
Shilling  Handy  Guide  of  Scotland,"  sect. 


ix.,  p.  90. 

53  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "  Kalendars  of  the 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

54  See  "  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land."     Bute,  p.  54- 

55  See  the  map  prefixed  to  John  Nichol 
son's  "History  of  Galloway." 

s6  See  "  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land."  Wigton,  p.  in. 

s?  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "Kalendars  of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

58  See  "  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scot 
land."  Ross,  p.  145. 

ss  For  information  regarding  this  group  of 
isles,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  Rev. 
George  Barry's  "History  of  the  Orkney 
Islands."  Edinburgh,  1805,  4to. 

60  Lord  Teignmouth,  in  his  "  Sketches  of 
the  Coasts  and  Islands  of  Scotland,"  gives 
several  interesting  particulars,  regarding  the 
Orkney  Islands. 

61  See    Bishop    Forbes'    "  Kalendars    of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

62  See  ibid. 

^  See  Rev.  Alban's  Butler's  "Lives  of 
the  Fathers,  Martyrs  and  other  Principal 
Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  I  February. 

64  See    Bishop    Forbes'    "  Kalendars   of 
Scottish  Saints,"  p.  290. 

65  See  Clackmannan,  No.  26. 

66  Here  there  is  a  tower  nearly  So  feet 
high  and  said  to  have  been  built  by  Robert 
Bruce.    See  ' '  The  Tourists'  Shilling  Handy 
Guide  to  Scotland,"  sect,  viii.,  p.  71. 

6?  See  Bishop  Forbes'  "Kalendars  ol 
Scottish  Saints,"  pp.  290,  291. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID.  215 


complete  list  can  be  obtained,  at  present,  to  prove  the  extent  to  which  it  had 
gone,  or  the  various  localities,  in  which  religious  houses,  and  churches,68 
dedicated  to  her,  had  been  established.  In  British  Armorica,6?  and  in  other 
parts  of  France,  St.  Brigid  was  invoked,70  and  very  special  honour  was  paid 
to  her  memory.  At  the  present  day,  a  very  fine  carved  statue  of  the  holy 
virgin,  represented  nearly  life-size  in  the  garb  of  her  order,  and  attired  as  an 
abbess,  is  to  be  seen,  in  the  noble  old  cathedral  church  of  St.  Orner.?1 
Among  other  foundations  erected  to  her  honour,  in  France,  we  read  of  an 
hospital  at  Bisuntinum,  which  existed  in  the  year  I43S.?2  There  was  a 
chapel  or  an  altar,  dedicated  to  our  saint,  in  St.  Martin's  Monastery  at  Tours  ; 
and,  in  one  of  his  poems,  Alcuin7-'  speaks  regarding  certain  altars,  erected  to 
the  Scottish  or  Irish  virgins,  Brigid  and  Ita.74  Classed  with  the  saints  of 
Germany,  our  Scottish  virgin,  St.  Brigid,  is  held  to  have  been  among  the 
most  celebrated.75  We  are  told,  not  only  of  a  parish  church  being  dedicated 
to  St.  Brigid,  the  Scottish  virgin,  at  Cologne,  but  we  are  further  informed, 
that  it  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  that  city.  It  bordered  on  the 
street,  called  Lankgassen.76  Candidas,  who  was  a  monk  of  Fulda,  and  a 
writer  who  lived  in  the  ninth  century,  gives  us  a  description  of  relics  there 
preserved,  lie  mentions  a  chapel  or  an  altar,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid  and  to 
other  virgins,  before  the  year  SiS.77  In  Belgium,  likewise,  our  holy  abbess 
was  venerated  in  a  distinguished  manner.  By  Molanus,78  she  is  ranked 
among  the  saints  of  that  country.  There  was  a  church,  erected  to  our  saint, 
near  Fossey,  in  the  diocese  of  Xamur,  Belgium.  This  was  frequented  by 
pious  pilgrims,  and  by  the  local  inhabitants.  The  Reverend  Dean  of  Fossey 
was  engaged,  in  the  work  of  repairing  this  church,  before  the  middle  of  the 
seventeenth  century.7'1  In  his  collections  regarding  St..  Brigid,  Father  Ward 
tells  us,  that  a  church  or  an  altar  was  dedicated  to  this  great  virgin,  at 
Hispalis,  in  Spain  ;  and,  Roth  says,  that  her  relics  were  kept  at  Lisbon,  in 


"Alan  Cope,  Dial,  ii.,  cap.  22.  xxxviii.,   pp.    186  to   188,    lib.   xxvi.,    lib. 

fcsller  Office  of  Nine  Lessons  is  to  be  xxvii.,  ibid.     He  died  on  the  igth  of  May, 

found  in  the  old   "  Breviarium  Chorisopo-  A.n.  804. 

tensjs>»  :4  «  Virginibus    sacris    prcvsens  hrcc  ara 

7°  St.  Alcuin  compiled  a  Litany,  in  which  dicata  est, 

her  name  is  included,  and  this  form  of  prayer  Cjuarum  clara  fiat  Scottorum  vita  per 

Charlemagne  was  accustomed  to  recite,  as  urbes, 

part  of  his  daily  devotions.  Brigida  sancta  famnna  Chnsto  simul 

"l  During  a  visit  made  to  this  place  in  Ita  fidelis 

July,  1863,  the  writer  was  pleased  to  be-  Hue    nobis    salutem    per    suifragia 

hold  this  object  of  popular  respect.     Several  sancta,''  &C. 

votive    offerings    were   suspended    near    it.  ^ 

Beside  the  foregoing  statue,  was  a  minia-  — Alcuinus,  "Poemata,    JNo.  247. 

ture  one,  representing  the  small  image  of  a  «  See   1'ctrus  Cratepolius,    "  De  Sanctis 

voung  maiden  engaged  in  the  act  of  churn-  Germanic. 

ing.       Doubtless,    both    these    objects    had  '6  See    Erhard    Winheim,    "In   Sacrano 

been  the  gift  of  some  former  Irish  resident,  Agnppmce." 

at  St.  Omer's,  to  the  cathedral  church.  77  He  says  : 

'-  At  this  year,  we  have  the   subsequent 

testimony  of  John  Chifflet,  archbishop  over  "  Agnes  &  Euphcmia,  Geneoufa,  Susanna, 

this    city,   who    thus   writes:   "Hoc    anno  Columba, 

Capitulum  Bisuntinum  ratam  habuitunionem  1  loc  altare  ornant  rite  suis  precibus 

Ilospitalis  S.  Brigida.'  factum  Cantoriaj  Bis-  Cum  qucis  tu  Brigida,  &  tu  \  irgo  tocho- 

untinae  :  ex  actis  Capituli,  in  quibus  actis  7  lastica  semper                           _      ;> 

Decemb  ,  I ;  30,  dicitur  fundatio  illius  domus  Placatum  nobis  Altithrpnum  facias, 

nullibi  repenri  ;  atque  idipsum  innuit  vetus-  ^  See  his  Kalendar   at  the  1st  of  ] 

tus  anno   1363  conscriptus    codex,"  &c.-  ary.     "  Natales  Sanctorum  Lelgn,  et  eorum 

1'ar-ii     cap   79  Chronica  recapitulatio.                                   i; 

73  See  an  account  of  this  celebrated  writer  »  See   Colon's    "  Trias   Thaumaturga 

in  Mabillon's  "  Annales  Ordinis  S.  Bene-  Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Bngidee,  cap. 

dicti,"  tomu.s  ii.,  lib.  xxiii.,  sects,  xxxvii.,  xiv.,  xv.,  pp.  623,  624. 


216  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


Portugal.80  There  had  been  a  foundation  in  her  honour,  at  Placentia,81  in 
Italy  ;  but,  Colgan  could  not  pronounce  with  certainty,  whether  it  existed  in 
his  time.82 

In  England  and  Scotland,  the  following  modern  churches,  chapels  and 
religious  houses  have  been  consecrated  or  placed  under  the  invocation  of  our 
great  virgin  saint.  In  the  diocese  of  Westminster,  and  in  the  city  of  London, 
there  is  a  St.  Brigid's  Church,  at  Baldwin's  Gardens,  E.G.,  at  Isleworth. 
There  is  a  church,  jointly  dedicated  to  Our  Eady  of  the  Immaculate  Con 
ception  and  to  St.  Brigid.  In  the  diocese  of  Beverly,  and  in  the  great  manu 
facturing  town  of  Leeds,  is  a  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid.  In  the  diocese 
and  great  commercial  town  of  Liverpool,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at 
Bevington  Hill,  N.,  there  are  also  a  seminary  and  schools  of  St.  Brigid. 

In  the  western  district  of  Scotland,  a  church  of  St.  Brigid  was  built,  in 
1871,  at  Newmains,  in  Lanarkshire  ;  and  another  at  Kilbirnie,  Ayrshire,  was 
erected  in  1862  ;  one  at  Eaglesham,  Renfrewshire,  was  built  in  i858.83 

In  the  New  World,  and  especially  since  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  several  churches,  schools,  and  other  religious  institutions,  have  been 
built,  in  honour  of  our  illustrious  saint,  and  these  have  been  placed  under 
her  protection.  The  following  enumeration,  because  drawn  from  the  most 
recent  and  authentic  official  source,84  is  deemed  to  be  accurate,  so  far  as  it 
goes,  and  tolerably  complete.  We  shall  commence  with  the  great  Western 
Republic,,  the  United  States  of  America.  Thus,  in  the  archdiocese  of  Balti 
more,  there  is  a  church,  dedicated  to  St.  Brigid,  at  Canton,  and  St.  Brigid's 
school  is  to  be  found  at  Baltimore.  In  the  diocese  of  Wheeling,  there  is  a 
church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Murray's,  Lewis  County,  State  of  Virginia.  In  the 
archdiocese  of  Boston,  there  is  a  St.  Brigid's  Church,  at  Abington,  one  at 
Framingham,  one  at  Maynard,  and  one  at  Melrose.  In  the  diocese  of 
Burlington,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  West  Rutland,  and  parochial 
schools  are  attached,  under  the  same  patronage.  In  the  diocese  of  Hartford, 
there  is  a  church  to  St.  Brigid,  at  Cheshire,  one  at  Cornwall,  one  at  Man 
chester,  and  one  at  Moodus.  There  is  an  academy  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Meriden, 
under  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy.  In  the  diocese  of  Portland,  there  is  a 
church  of  St.  Brigid  at  Vassalboro.  In  the  diocese  of  Springfield,  there  is  a 
church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  East  Hampton,  and  another  at  Millbury.  There  is 
another  St.  Brigid's  Church,  at  Warren.  In  the  archdiocese  of  Cincinatti, 
there  is  a  church  to  St.  Brigid  at  Xenia.  In  the  diocese  of  Cleveland,  and 
in  the  city  so  called,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  now  building.  In  the 
diocese  of  Detroit,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Northfield.  In  the 
diocese  of  Fort  Wayne,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Logansport.  In 
the  diocese  of  Louisville,  and  in  the  city  so  called,  is  St.  Brigid's  Church. 
At  Hickman,  there  is  another  church,  dedicated  to  her.  St.  Brigid's  School, 
in  Louisville,  is  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  In  the  diocese  of 
Vincennes,  there  are  churches  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Liberty,  and  at  Nebraska. 
In  the  archdiocese  of  Milwaukee,  there  is  a  church  to  St.  Brigid,  at  Kewaskee, 
and  one  at  Ridgeway.  In  the  diocese  of  Green  Bay,  there  is  a  church  of  St. 
Brigid,  at  Northport.  In  the  diocese  of  La  Crosse,  there  is  a  church  of  St. 
Brigid,  at  Beaver  Creek,  as  also  one  at  WTestford.  In  the  diocese  of  St.  Paul, 

80  In  "  Uissertatione  de  S.  Brigida. "  tical  Register  and  Almanac,  for  the  year  of 

81  This  is  stated,  in  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  our  Lord,  1876."     London  :   1876,  8vo. 
Brigid,  chap.  50.  ^  See     Sadliers'     "  Catholic     Directory, 

82  See  "  Trias  Thaumaturga."    Appendix  Almanac,    and   Ordo,  for  the   year  of  our 
Quarta  ad   Acta   S.   Brigida;,    cap.   xv.,  p.  Lord,    1876."      With   full    returns    of    the 
624.  various  dioceses  in  the  United  States  and 

83  The  foregoing  list  has  been  extracted,  British  America.     Published  in  New  York, 
from  "The  Catholic  Directory,  Ecclesias-  1876,  Svo. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Pleasant  Grove.  In  the  diocese  of  Mobile, 
which  belongs  to  the  province  of  Ne\v  Orleans,  there  is  a  church  of  St. 
Brigid  at  Whistler,  with  a  convent  and  school  attached,  also  dedicated  to  St. 
Brigid,  and  attended  by  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  In  the  archdiocese  of  New 
York,  are  a  church  to  St.  Brigid,  in  the  city,  and  also  St.  Brigid's  Academy, 
with_St.  Brigid's  Male  School,  taught  by  the  Christian  Brothers;  also,  St. 
Brigid's  Female  School,  taught  by  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  In  the  diocese  of 
Albany,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Port  Schuyler,  one  at  Salisbury,  one 
at  Copake,  and  one  at  Skaneateles  Falls.  In  the  diocese  of  Brooklyn,  there 
is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Westbury.  In  the  diocese  of  Buffalo,  and  in  the 
city  so  named,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid.  Again,  at  Cuba  and  at 
Bergen,  there  are  churches  to  St.  Brigid.  St.  Brigid's  Schools  in  Buffalo,  are 
under  the  care  of  the  Sixers  of  Mercy.  In  the  diocese  of  Newark,  there 
are  churches  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Glassboro,  at  High  Bridge  (now  building), 
and  at  Jersey  City.  St.  Bride's  Academy,  Jersey  City,  is  taught  by  Sisters 
of  Chanty,  and  they  also  teach  in  parochial  schools  attached.  In  the 
diocese  of  Ogdensburg,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Trout  River. 
In  the  diocese  of  Rochester,  and  in  the  city  of  that  name,  there  is 
a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  and  there  is  one  in  East  Bloomiield.  In  the  city, 
St.  Brigid's  Free  School  is  taught  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph.  In  the 
archdiocese  of  Philadelphia,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  the  Falls  of 
Schtiylkill.  In  the  diocese  of  Frie,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  James 
town,  and  one  at  Meadville.  At  the  latter  place,  is  St.  Brigid's  Academy, 
under  care  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  besides  a  parochial  school,  under  her 
invocation.  In  the  diocese  of  Pittsburgh,  and  in  the  city  so  named,  there  is 
a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  and  one  also  at  McXeill's  Settlement,  as  likewise  one 
at  Wellesburgh.  St.  Brigid's  Schools  are  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh.  In  the 
diocese  of  Scranton,  there  is  a  Mission  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Reiser  Valley.  In 
the  archdiocese  of  St.  Louis  there  are  churches,  one  to  St.  Bridgid  in  the 
city  of  St.  Louis,  and  one  at  Pacific  City.  In  the  city  of  St.  Louis  are  St. 
Brigid's  Christian  Brothers'  Schools,  St.  Brigid's  Half-Orphan  Asylum,  and 
St.  Brigid's  Female  Schools,  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph.  In  the 
diocese  of  Alton,  there  is  a  church  to  St.  Brigid  at  Liberty,  and  one  at  Delhi. 
In  the  diocese  of  Chicago,  and  at  Bridge  Port,  Chicago,  there  is  a  church  of 
St.  Brigid.  There  is  another  at  Tremont.  In  Chicago  are  St.  Brigid's 
Schools  for  Boys  under  the  Christian  Brothers  ;  while,  there  are  also  St. 
Brigid's  Schools  for  Girls.  In  the  diocese  of  Nashville,  there  is  a  church  of 
St.  Brigid  at  Memphis,  and  schools  are  attached  to  it,  under  care  of  the  Do 
minican  Nuns.  In  the  diocese  of  St.  Joseph,  there  are  churches  of  St.  Brigid, 
at  Bucklin,  and  at  Forest  City.  In  the  Vicariate  Apostolic  of  Ransas,  there 
are  churches  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Coalfield,  and  at  St.  Brigid's.  In  the  arch 
diocese  of  San  Francisco,  and  in  the  city  so  called,  there  is  a  church  of  St. 
Brigid,  and  one  at  Volcano. 

The  following  churches,  dedicated  to  the  renowned  abbess  of  Rildare, 
are  in  the  British  possessions.  In  the  province  of  Quebec,  Lower  Canada, 
and  in  the  diocese  of  Three  Rivers,  there  is  a  parish  church  of  Ste.  Brigitte  ; 
in  the  diocese  and  city  of  Montreal,  there  is  a  church,  dedicated  to  St. 
Bridget  ;  in  the  diocese  of  St.  Hyacinth,  there  is  a  parish  church,  dedicated 
to  Ste.  Brigide  ;  in  the  diocese  of  Ottawa,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at 
Onslow,  and  another  at  Osgood,  on  the  Rideau,  while  there  is  a  St.  Brigid's 
School,  at  Ottawa,  in  charge  of  Gray  Nuns  ;  in  the  diocese  of  St.  Germain  of 
Rimotiski,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Maria.  In  the  province  of  To 
ronto,  Upper  Canada,  and  in  the  diocese  of  Kingstown,  there  is  a  church  of 
St.  Brigid,  at  Burgess.  In  the  province  of  Halifax,  and  in  the  diocese  of  St. 
John,  N.B.,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid.  at  Kingstown  ;  in  the  diocese  of 


2l8 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Chatham,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid,  at  Renous  Bridge  ;  in  the  diocese 
of  Charlottstown,  on  Lott  n,  there  is  a  church  of  St.  Brigid.  Again,  in  the 
diocese  of  St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  there  is  a  church,  known  as  St.  Bride's 
and  Branch. 

Three  different  days,  within  the  year,  have  special  festivals  of  St.  Brigid 
assigned  to  them,  according  to  our  Irish  annalists  and  hagiographers.  First, 
At  the  year  449,  the  "  Annals  of  Roscrea"  state,  that  our  saint  was  born  on 
Wednesday,  and  on  the  eighth  moon  of  February.  This  is  attested,  likewise, 
by  an  Irish  Life  of  St.  Brigid.8*  Yet,  in  no  other  record  or  martyrology  can 
we  mid  confirmation,  concerning  this  statement.  Secondly,  The  Feast  of  a 
Translation  of  St.  Patrick's,  of  St.  Brigid's,  and  of  St.  Columbkille's  Relics 
occurs,  on  the  Qth  of  June,86  according  to  various  authorities,  while  others 
assign  it  to  the  day  following,  or  to  the  loth  of  this  same  month.8?  Our  own 
respected  Colgan  says,  he  could  not  undertake  to  settle  such  a  question,88  as 
at  the  time  of  writing,  he  had  been  an  exile  from  his  country  during  thirty-two 
years,  and,  as  a  consequence,  he  was  ignorant  regarding  Irish  Church  customs 
and  practice,  in  celebrating  this  festival  of  their  Translation.8?  Thirdly, 
The  principal  festival  of  St.  Brigid  was  that  of  her  Natalis,  on  the  ist  of 
February,  and  this  corresponds  with  the  day  of  her  death.90  By  an  Indult 
of  the  Papal  See,^  the  ist  of  February  was  to  be  observed,  as  a  double  of 
the  second  class,  throughout  all  Ireland.  In  the  united  dioceses  of  Kildare 
and  Leighlin,  the  feast  of  St.  Brigid,  as  special  patroness  of  these_  dioceses, 
is  observed  as  a  double  of  the  first  class,  with  an  octave,  commencing  on  the 
ist  of  February,  and  terminating  on  the  8th  day  of  the  same  month.  This 
principal  festival  of  St.  Brigid  is  noticed^  in  nearly  all  our  native  and  foreign 
Martyrologies,  whether  in  MSS.  or  published. 

St.  dingus,  the  Culdee,  in  his  Metrical  Festilogy,  at  the  Kalends,  or  ist 


8=  In  the  sixth  chapter. 

86  See  Stanihurst,  in  "Vita  S.  Patricii," 
lib.  ii.,  cap.  76. 

8?  Ussher,  referring  to  Down,  in  his 
"Primordiis  Ecclesiarum  Britannicarum," 
cap.  via.,  p.  791,  cites  the  following  passage, 
from  lect.  vi.,  Officii  Translationis,  printed 
at  Paris,  A.D.  1620  :  "Tempore  vero  trans- 
lationis  eorum  in  dicta  Ecclesia  prsesidebunt 
quindecim  Episcopi  cum  Abbatibus,  Pra> 
positis,  Decanis,  Archidiaconibus,  Prioribus, 
aliisque  viris  orthodoxis  quam  plurimis, 
statuentes  diem  translationis  dictorum  sanc 
torum  ab  universis  Christi  lidelibus  per  lli- 
berniam  constitutis  quarto  Idas  Junii  per 
singulos  annos  celebrari  ct  transferentes 
festum  S.  ColumbiU  in  crastinum  octavamm 
istarum  reliquiarum  istarum."  Ussher  ob 
serves,  that  for  "quarto  Idas,"  we  should 
read,  "quinto  Iclus  ;"  and,  this  emendation 
seems  to  be  suggested  by  the  words  of  the 
text  itself,  "  transferentes  festum  S.  Colum- 
bse." 

83  Colgan  remarks,  that  if  the  loth  of 
June  be  not  meant,  why  should  St.  Co- 
lumba's  feast,  which  fell  "in  quintum  Iclus," 
or  on  the  gth  day  of  June,  be  transferred  to 
the  feast  of  the  before-mentioned  translation, 
which  seems  to  have  fallen,  not  on  that  day, 
but  on  the  fourth  uf  the  Ides,  correspond 
ing  with  the  loth  of  June,  when  it  was  pro 


bably  celebrated. 

s«  Yet,  we  find  the  feast  of  the  Transla 
tion  of  St.  Patrick's  Relics,  set  down  at  the 
loth  of  June  ;  while,  at  the  same  day,  we 
read,  in  the  emendator  of  Usuard,  or  in  the 
"Carthusian  Martyrology:"  "Apud  Sco- 
tiam  Translatio  S.  Patricii,  Episcopi  et 
Confessoris."  Canisius  has  a  like  entry,  in 
his  "  German  Martyrology."  In  "Catalogo 
Generali/'Eerrarius,  citing  Canisius,  gives  a 
similar  account,  and  he  afterwards  adds  in 
his  notes  :  "  Ex  Canisio  hac  die,  quce  Trans 
lationis  est.  Natalis  enim  die  17.  Martii, 
ut  in  Martyrologio  Romano,  colitur.  Est 
autim  ille  Patricius  celeberrimus  Episcopus, 
Hibernia  Primas,  et  miraculis  illustris  :  cu- 
jus  corpus  Duni  urbe  Hibernica,  olim  con- 
ditum  erat  una  cum  comporibus  Sanctorum 
Columbre  Abbatis,  et  Brigidai  Virginis. 
Cujus  rei  distichon  apud  Hectorem  Boetium 
legitur  hoc 

"III  tres  in  Duno  tumulo  tumulantur  in 
uno, 

Brigida,  Patricius,  atque  Columba  pius." 

yo  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidse,  cap. 
xi.,  pp.  620,  621. 

yl  Bearing  date  August  6th,  1854,  and 
issued  by  Pope  Pius  IX. 

9=  At  the  ist  of  February. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


of  February,  mentions  this  illustrious  cenobiarch  of  pious  women,  with  a  dis 
tinguishing  eulogy. 93  The  "  Martyrology  of  Tallaght,"  ^  composed  by  the 
same  St.  yEngus  and  St.  Molruan,  records  the  eternal  rest  of  St.  Brigid,  as 
taking  place  in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age,  and  on  the  Kalends  of  Febru 
ary.  Likewise,  the  Calendar  of  Cashel,  Charles  Maguire,  Fitzsimons,  and 
other  hagiographists,  treat  about  our  saint  and  her  festival,  at  the  ist  of 
February.  Besides  these  notices,  in  that  ancient  Martyrology,  kept  in  the 
Cathedral  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  Dublin,  the  memory  of  St.  Brigid, 
virgin,  is  noted,  with  particular  eulogy,  at  the  Kalends,  or  ist  day  of  Febru 
ary.  95  Her  office  was  celebrated  with  the  reading  of  nine  lessons.  This  day 
was  regarded  as  the  one  of  her  Dormition,  Deposition,?6  or  Death.  The 
martyrologist  avers,  that  she  went  to  join  the  Heavenly  choirs  of  angels,  and 
Christ,  for  whose  love  she  wrought,  after  performing  signs  and  miracles, 
after  renowned  works  of  mercy  and  alms-deeds,  after  pure  humility  and 
benevolence,  devoted  to  God,  and  after  an  illustrious  example  afforded  to 
other  virgins  of  chastity  and  of  holiness.  If  the  great  works  of  this  noble 
virgin  were  to  be  written  in  full,  the  martyrologist  declares,  he  should  be 
obliged  to  write  a  book  of  an  unusual  size.  A  still  later  composition,  the 
Martyrology  of  Donegal^  records,  on  this  day,  the  celebration  of  the  festival 
of  Brighit,  virgin,  abbess  of  Cill-Dara. 

The  Roman  Martyrology,''8  and  Father  Stephen  White,^  commemorate 
this  renowned  virgin,  at  the  ist  of  February.  In  the  anonymous  catalogue 
of  Irish  saints,  published  by  O'Sullivan  Beare,100  the  name  of  St.  Brigida  occurs. 
In  Henry  Fit/simon's  list,' it  is  also  to  be  found  at  this  date.101  Reference  is 
made  to  Surius,  and  to  notes  in  the  Roman  Martyrology,  as  edited  by 
Baronius.102  Convaeus  observes,  in  relation  to  this  saintly  virgin,  at  the 
same  day,  that  she  was  of  royal  race.103  In  several  ancient  Martyrologies 
the  feast  of  this  holy  virgin  is  recorded.  Venerable  Bede,  in  noting  it, 
remarks,  that  St.  Brigid's  Life  had  been  distinguished  for  miracles.10*  Rabanus 


95  The  followin-  rann,  transcribed  from  *•  At  this  day,  the  Roman  Martyrology 

the  "Leabhar  Breac,"  with  its  English  says:  "In  Scotia  S.  Brigidse  Virginis, 
translation,  has  been  kindly  furnished  to  qua;  cum  lignum  altaris  tetigisset,  in  testi- 
the  writer,  by  the  Irish  Professor,  Bryan  monium  Virginitatis  suoe  statim  vinde  fac- 
O'Looney,  of  the  Catholic  University  :—  turn  est." 

99  See  "Apologia   pro   Hibernia,     cap. 
•O.  kl.  ttlonAir  OAUMVTO  fc^&t,  iv.,  p.  39,  cap.  v.,  pp.  71,  72. 

Wxorr  mA|\arv  marx  n-jlwen'O  ;  I0°  See     "Historic    Catholic*    Ibernue 

V>1\ip'r  b,\n  bAlc-c   n-UAlArm,  Compendium,"  tomus  i.,  lib.   iv.,  cap.  XL, 

Ceivo  CA1T)  cAillec  n-er\iMin.  p.  49- 

101  See  ibid.,  cap.  xii.,  p.  53. 

102  Baronius  remarks,  that  Bede,  Usuarcl, 
Ado,  and  other  Martyrologists,  agree.     He 
also  says,  that  Surius,  in  his  first  tome,  has 
some  acts  relating  to  our  saint  ;  while,  in  an 
OKI   MS.   copy,   belonging  to   St.    Cecilia's 

«  On  the  ist  of  February,  we  find  entered  monastery,  beyond  the  Tiber,  her  Acts  were 
in  Dr.  Kelly's  "  Martyrology  of  Tallagh,"  written,  at  greater  length,  by  Cogitosus,  in 
"Dormitatio  S.  JJrigida:,  Ixx.  anno  ct-tatis  24  distinct  chapters.  Appended  to  this 
SIIT  "  n  xiv  l^e  were  some  verses- 

95*  See  the'  work,  edited  by  John  Clarke  "*  He  adds,   that  she  was  venerated  at 

CrosthwaUhe  and  Rev.  Dr/Todd.  Intro-  Lisbon,  the  chief  city  of  Portugal  w here  her 
duction,  pp.  xlvii.,  liii.,  and  pp.  62,  84,  85.  sacred  relics  were  preserved,  and  were  an- 

s6  The  English  Martyrology  says:  "In  nually  exposed  "Jubilsei  celebiatione.  - 
Hibernia  depositio  S.  Brigida:  Virginis,"  See  ibid. ,  cap.  x.  p.  47.  .,••„• 

104  "Apud  Scotiam  S.  Bngidse  vnginis  . 

97  See  Drs  Todd's  and  Reeves' edition,  cuj us  vita  miraculis  claruit ;  quffi  cum  lignum 
pp.  34  to  37.'  tetigisset,  viride  factum  est. 


A  shower  of  martyrs  great,  resplendenl 


The 'chaste  head  of  the  nuns  of  Erin. 


220 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


Maurus  has  a  notice  of  her  nativity.  Ios  St.  Ado  of  Vienna  has  a  record  in 
his  Martyrology,  and  exactly  like  that  of  Eede.  Usuard  extended,  or  the 
Carthusian  Martyrology,  at  the  ist  of  February,  remarks  on  her  renowned 
miracles.106  St.  Notker  has  a  similar  notice  to  that  of  Raban,  with  an  addi 
tion  about  the  wood  of  the  altar  becoming  green,  in  recognition  of  her 
purity.10?  The  Blessed  Marianus  O'Gorman  calls  our  saint,  the  Arch-Virgin 
or  Chief  of  the  Irish  Virgins.1"3  And  the  Martyrology  of  Salisbury  states 
her  great  merits.  109  Wandelbertus  Prumiensis,110  Galasinus,111  and  Mola- 
nus,112  in  their  respective  Martyrologies,  as  also  Hermanns  Gruen,  have 
notices  of  this  holy  virgin,  at  the  ist  day  of  February.1^  Other  authorities, 
if  cited,  should  prove  too  tedious  for  enumeration.114 

In  various  antiphonaries,  office  books,115  kalendars,  and  martyrologies, 
her  name  and  feasts  are  inscribed.  Likewise  notices  are  to  be  met  with,  in 
those  ecclesiastical  remains,  which  serve  to  manifest  the  great  reverence  paid 
her  memory  by  the  clergy,  in  different  dioceses,  throughout  Ireland. 

The  office  of  St.  Brigid  appears  to  have  been  recited  in  times  the  most 
remote,  not  alone  in  the  diocese  of  Kildare,  as  special  patroness,  but  through 
out  the  various  other  dioceses  of  Ireland,  as  also  in  the  British  Isles,  and  on 
the  continent  of  Europe.  The  old  "  Breviarium  Chorisopotensis"  of  British 
Armorica,  had  an  office  of  St.  Brigid,  having  nine  lessons.  Her  feast  was 
celebrated  at  Cologne,  as  a  double,  and  in  the  church,  bearing  her  name, 


I05  "In  Hibernia  Nativitas  Brigidae,  quce 
nativitas  magnorum  meritorum  et  sanctitatis 
esse  pnedicatur." 

iob  «  jn  ycotia  s.  Brigidee  Virginis  cujus 
Vita  miraculis  clarait. " 

I07"In  Hibernia  Nativitas  S.  Brigidae 
Virginis  quse  multorum  meritorum  et  sanc 
titatis  esse  praedicatur,  adeo  ut  cum  lignum 
altaris  tetigisset  viride  fit  effectum. " 

108  "  Brigida  Archivirgo,  seu  caput  vir- 
ginum  Hibernios." 

^  ' '  In  Scotia  fcstum  S.  Brigidce  Vir 
ginis,  cujus  vita  virtutibus  et  miraculis  fuit 
valde  famosa." 

110  He  thus  writes  : — 

"  Brigida  Virgo  potens,  Februi  sibi  prima 

Calendas 
Scotorum  miro  poscit  celebrata  favore. " 

111  In  his  "  Martyrology"  at  the  same  day, 
Galasinus  observes,  "  In  Scotia  S.  Brigidae 
Virginis,  qua;  apud  Episcopum  cum  virgini- 
tatem   protiteretur,    lignum    altaris    tetigit, 
quod  statim  viride  factum,   argumento  fuit 
ejus     sanctitatis,     et     virginalis     castitas." 
Again  :    "  Brigida   Virgo,   qu:u  ut   seribunt 
Lippomanus  et  alii,  fuit  e  Scotia  vcl  Hiber 
nia  oriunda,  nata  ex  Dubtacho  patre  et  qua- 
dain  ejus   ancilla  ;   quae   multis  postmodum 
miraculis    valde    illustris    evasit,    multaque 
Virginum  et  Monachorum  Monasteria  fun- 
davit,  multa  restauravit.     Ilia  est,  quie  solo 
attactu    lignum    altaris    in    siue    virginitatis 
argumentum,  viride  effecit,  mortua  est  cum 
magna  sanctitatis  opinione  anno  518.     Alii 
volunt,  an  522." — Felic.  I.  Febr. 

"-'  In  his  Belgian  Calendar,  at  the  1st  of 
February,  Molanus  places  her  among  the 
Beliiian  saints,  'bee  "Natales  Sanctorum 


Belgii,  et  eorum  Chronica  recapitulatio." 

113  At  the  same  day,  in  MS.   Chartucie 
Coloniensis,    Gruen    writes:    "  S.    Brigidse 
Virginis  in  Scotia,  alias  Hibernia." 

114  See  Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga." 
Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 
xi.,  pp.  620,  621. 

113  The  following  notices  refer  to  her 
Offices  and  Feasts.  A  MS.  of  T.C.D., 
classed  B.  I,  I,  contains  at  February  1st, 
Kal.  Sanctae  Brigidos  Virginis  non  martyris 
iii.  lect.  .A  MS.  classed  B.  3,  i,  at  the  same 
date,  enters  in  its  Kalendar,  Sanctse  Brigi 
da?  Virginis  non  Martyris  Duplex  fiii  ix.  lect. 
A  MS.  classed  B.  1,4,  contains  at  February 
the  1st,  Kal.  Sanctse  Brigidae  Virginis  non 
Martyris,  ix.  lect. ,  in  its  Kalendar.  Another 
entry,  at  February  1st  Kal.  is  Sanctse  Brigi 
dse  Virg.  ix.  lect.  A  calendar  in  Trinity 
College  in  MS.,  marked,  B.  3,  9,  has  in 
the  list  of  its  Irish  saints,  at  February  the 
Ist,  Kal.  Sancta;  Brigidae  Virg.  non  mart, 
iii.  lect.  A  MS.  classed  B.  3,  10,  registers 
at  February  the  I  si,  Kal.  Sanctui  Brigidae 
Virg.  A  MS.  classed  15.  3,  12,  contains 
at  Februarii,  Kal.  Brigida;  Virg.  ix.  lect. 
A  MS.  classed  B.  3,  13,  contains  at  Feb 
ruary  1st,  Kal.  Sancta;  Brigida;  Virg.  non 
mart.  ix.  lect.  In  the  Kalendar  of  a  Roman 
Psaltery,  classed  among  the  MSS.,  B.  3,  14, 
at  February  ist,  Kal.  is  noted  Brigidae  Vir 
ginis.  In  another,  classed  13.  3,  15,  is  en 
tered,  at  February  1st,  in  French,  Sc  Bride. 
In  another  Kalendar  of  the  Breviary,  accord 
ing  to  the  Sarum  rite,  and  in  the  second 
part,  at  February  1st,  Kal.,  we  have  entered 
Sanctae  Brigidae  Virginis,  with  an  Office  of 
Three  Lessons.  This  latter  is  classed,  in 
both  its  parts,  B.  3,  18,  19. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIG  ID. 


she  being  its  patroness.  In  the  breviaries  and  missals,  belonging  to  the 
churches  of  Utrecht,  of  Treves,  of  Mentz,  of  Herbipolis,  of  Constance,  of 
Strasburg,  and  of  many  other  places  in  Germany,  her  feast  is  set  down  as  a 
si:nplcx,  at  the  ist  of  February.  Before  Colgan's  time,  an  office  of  St.  Brigid 
had  been  printed  at  Paris,  A.D.  1622.  In  this,  the  antiphons  are  proper  and 
taken  from  the  lauds,  in  the  first  vespers  of  her  feast.  The  capitulum,  hymn, 
antiphon  of  the  Magnificat,  and  prayer,  are  also  proper.  At  matins,  the  in- 
vitatorium,  hymn,  as  at  first  vespers,  antiphons,  responses,  the  fourth,  fifth, 
and  sixth  lessons  of  the  second  nocturn,  are  proper,  the  remaining  lessons 
being  taken  from  the  common  of  virgins.  The  antiphons,  capitulum,  hymn, 
versicles,  and  responses,  with  the  antiphons  at  Benedictus,  and  the  prayer 
are  proper  for  lauds.  At  little  hours,  the  antiphons  are  taken  from  the 
proper  antiphons  of  lauds.  At  second  vespers,  the  antiphons,  psalms,  capi 
tulum,  and  hymn,  as  at  first  vespers  of  the  feast,  the  versicle,  response  and 
antiphon  of  the  Magnificat,  are  likewise  proper.  The  second  office,  taken 
from  the  Roman  Breviary,1'6  has  the  six  first  lessons  of  the  various  nocturns, 
one  and  two,  with  a  prayer  proper.  The  same  observations  will  also  apply, 
to  the  third  office  of  our  saint,  printed  from  the  "  Breviarium  Giennensis," 
published  in  Italy.  We  find  a  fourth  office,  taken  from  the  Breviary  of  the 
Canons  Regular  of  Lateran,  printed  by  Francis  Wander,  at  Mons.  Besides 
the  prayer  proper,  there  are  apparently  three  proper  lessons,  as  reprinted 
in  Colgan's  work.11? 

Hymns  and  panegyrics  of  St.  Brigid  have  been  written  in  various  lan 
guages.  A  Latin  hymn,  in  praise  of  St.  Brigid,  and  attributed  to  Nitmid  lam- 
hidan,  or  "Xinnid  of  the  clean  hand,"  is  preserved."8  There  is  an  Irish 
poem  on  St.  Brigid,  but  improperly  ascribed  to  St.  Suibne,  the  son  of  Cohnan, 
in  the  Bethain  Manuscript  Collection,"9  belonging  to  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,  and  written  by  O'Longan,  of  Cork.  Among  the  manuscripts  of 
Trinity  College,  Lhuyd1-'0  notes  an  Irish  hymn,'"1  in  which  St.  Brigid' s  praise 
is  celebrated.  Another,  composed  by  St.  Columkille,  in  the  time  of  ^Fdh 
Mac  Ainmerech,  also  celebrates  her  merits,  and  it  is  in  the  Irish  language.122 
Besides  the  foregoing,  Fdmund  Ihvyer,  Bishop  of  Limerick,  has  composed 
some  Latin  verses,  on  the  miracles  of  St.  Brigid.12^ 

116  "Printed    at    Venice,   by   Antonio    de  Quid  ?  nota  frons  floris,  floris  at  hostis 

Giuntu,  A.D.  1522.  Hymen. 

"?  See  Col-an's    "Trias  Thaumaturga."  Side-re    so    privat,    velut    hoste    pudoris, 

Appendix   1'riiua  ad   Aeta   S.  Brigida.-,  pp.  ocello  : 

599  to  602.  An  tjuia  dat  ccucis  lumina,  cccca  manet? 

118  Among   the    Trinity   College    Mann-  Dat  Bellona  viros,  Brigida  umbras  ensibus 

scripts,    Dublin,    we    fuund  a  copy  in   the  cscam 

MS.,  cla-.-ed,  K.  4,  2.  Brigida  bruta  facit  scire,  Minerva  viros. 

"•>  Vol.  liv.,  p.  176.  Res  cunctas  parere  parum  est ;  en  recula 

120  See     "  Arclucologia    Britannica,"    p.  inanis 

436.  Umbra  capit  vulnus,  pondus  &  umbra 

*-*  It  is  particularised  thus  :  501.     Ilymni  subit. 

in  laudem  B.  I'atricii,  Brigida',  el  Columb;e,  Next  follow  some  lines,  on  the  inextinguish- 

Hibern.  plerumque,  fol.  membr.  I.      125.  able  fire  of  St.  Brigid  :— 

I2-  It  is  thus  described  by  Lhuyd  :   "An 

hymn  on  S.  Brigid  in  Irish,  made  by  Cohim-  "  Ardet  inextinctus  Brigidse  focus  igne  pe- 

kille,  in  the  time  of  Eda  Mae  Ainmereck,  or  renni, 

Broccan    Cloin  ;    cum    regibus    Hibern.  et  Non  capit  augmentum  coctus  at   inde 

Success.  S.  Patricii,  p.  14."    See  "  Archaco-  cinis 

logia  Britannica,"  p.  436.  Quid  notat  ille  rogus?  tacitse-ne  incendia 

123  We  shall  extract  from  those  portions,  mentis  ? 

which  are  given  by  Colgan  :—  Vivaci  vivax  igne  notatur  amor  ?    _ 

Seel  si  hajc  flamma,   suos  dum    Brigida 

"  Dum  Brigidse  fit  Hymen,  frondet  pes  ari-  foverit  ignes, 

dus  arse  :  Nescia  mortis  erit ;  nescia  mortis  ent, 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID.   ' 


It  is  certain,  from  what  we  have  already  seen,  the  great  St.  Brigid's  relics 
were  preserved  with  great  honour,  at  Kilclare,  and  afterwards  at  Down,  for 
many  years  after  her  death.  Among  other  relics  of  our  saint,  Hanmer  men 
tions  a  bell,  called  "  Clogg  Brietta,"  or  "  Brigid's  Bell,"  which  he  says,  the 
superstitious  Irish  found  out,  in  process  of  time,  and  to  which  they  attributed 
great  virtue  and  holiness.  This  bell,  he  says,  and  other  toys,  carried  about, 
not  only  in  Ireland,  but  also  in  England,  were  banished  the  land,  in  the  time 
of  Henry  V.I24  Colgan  indignantly  takes  exception  to  such  statements  ;  and, 
he  shows,  that  the  relic  in  question  was  not  a  recent  invention  or  a  fraud, 
but  that  it  had  existed  from  a  remote  period.125  Yet,  he  would  not  under 
take  to  pronounce,  whether  or  not,  this  had  been  the  identical  bell,  sent  by 
St.  Gildas  to  our  saint  as  a  present.126  At  the  church  of  Serin,  in  Ireland, 
was  preserved  a  shroud,  in  which  St.  Brigid's  corpse  is  said  to  have  been 
wrapped,  together  with  other  much  venerated  relics  of  this  same  church.12? 
Doctor  Petrie  tells  us,  that  he  had  in  his  own  cabinet,  that  celebrated  reli 
quary,  which  contained  a  slipper  of  St.  Bridget.  It  is  said,  that  a  part  of  St. 
Brigid's  sacred  relics,  and  especially  the  wood  that  became  green,128  were 
preserved  at  Candida  Casa,  until  these  had  been  profaned  at  the  period  of 
the  Reformation. I29  In  his  catalogue  of  the  Irish  saints,  Ricardus  Convaeus, 
as  already  mentioned,  tells  us,  that  some  relics  belonging  to  our  saint,  were 
preserved  in  a  church  of  the  city  of  Lisbon,  in  Portugal.  It  is  not  impro 
bable,  that  certain  mementoes  of  St.  Brigid  had  been  deposited  in  some  of 
the  churches,  dedicated  to  her  memory,  as  previously  detailed,  and  more 
especially  within  those,  which  were  built  in  extern  countries. J3° 

In  art,  S.  Bridget  is  usually  represented,  with  her  perpetual  flame,  as  a 
symbol ;  sometimes,  with  a  column  of  fire,  said  to  have  been  seen  above  her 
head,  when  she  took  the  veil.^1  This  flame  has  reference,  likewise,  to  the 
portent  of  illumination  about  the  house  in  which  she  was  born.  In  allusion 
to  her  tending  of  cows,  she  is  also  represented,  dressed  as  a  dairy-maid,  and 
in  the  act  of  churning.  Again,  one  of  her  floral  emblems  is  the  "  Laurus 
Nobilis,"  which  is  called  the  shrub  of  St.  Bride,  although  it  does  not  flower 
on  her  day.J32  We  are  told,  furthermore,  that  her  type  among  created  things 
is  the  dove  among  birds,  the  vine  among  trees,  and  the  sun  among  the 
stars.133 

St.  Brigid  had  been  regarded  by  our  ancestors  as  the  special  patroness  of 
Leinster.1^  In  many  parts  of  Ireland,  a  very  considerable  number  of  mar- 

124  See  Hanmer's  "  Chronicle  of  Ireland,"  '3°  See  Colgan's  "Trias  Thaumaturga. " 
p.  91.                                                                        Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidae,  cap. 

125  For  proof  of  this  assertion,  he  cites  the       xvii.,  p.  626. 

respective  martyrologies  of  St.  /Engus,  or  of          I31  See  Rev.  S.  Baring- Gould's  "Lives  of 

liis  scholiast,  and  of  Charles  Maguire,  at  the  the  Saints,"  vol.  ii.,  February  L,  p.  22. 
ist  of  February.     See    "Trias    Thauma-  132  See  "  Circle  of  the  Seasons,"  p.  32. 

lurga."     Appendix  Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Bri-  I33  See  Professor  O'Looney's  Irish  Life  of 

gidce,  cap.  xvii.,  p.  625.  St.  Brigid,  pp.  43,  44. 

1=6  See  Colgan's  "Acta  Sanctorum  Hiber-  I34  The  following  quotation,  in  reference 

niae,"  xxix.  Januarii.      Vita  S.  Gildte  Ba-  to  St.  Bridget,  is  from  a  poem  on  the  "  Pa- 

clonici,  cap.  ix.,  p.  183.  tron  Saints  of  the  principal  tribes  and  terri* 

127  According  to  St.  Adamnan's  catalogue  lories  of  Ireland,"  several  copies  of  which 
of  these  religious  treasures.  are  preserved  in  the  Library  of  the  R.  I.  A. 

128  In  token  of  her  purity,  the  altar  is  said  Especially  there  are  two  MSS.,  classed  23, 
to  have  become  virescent,  and  to  have  budded  L.  19,  and  23,  L.  39.     An  extract  is  kindly 
forth  flowers,  according  to  one  account.    See  furnished  by  Mr.  Joseph  O'Longan,  which, 
Colgan's  "  Trias  Thaumaturga. "    Appendix  with  its  English  translation,  reads  as  fol- 
Quarta  ad  Acta  S.  Brigidte,  cap.  xi.,   pp.  lows  : — 

620,  621.  taigeAii  uite  Ar\  cul  fy\1jioe 

129  See  Camerarius  "  De   Statu  Hominis  Clu  50  fai-ob^e. 

veteris  simul  ac  novae  Ecclesise,  et  Sanctis       All  Leinster  under  the  protection  of  Bridget, 
Kegni  Scotise,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  iii.,  sec.  2,  p.  141.  Fame  most  precious. 


LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


nages  were  solemnized  within  that  period  of  the  year,  extending  from  the 
Epiphany  to  Ash-Wednesday.  Several  parties  were  also  most  anxious  that 
their  marriages  should  be  celebrated  before  the  ist  of  February  so'  that 
possession  might  then  be  taken  of  their  new  abode.'ss  It  was  also  an  in 
variable  usage  of  the  Irish  people  to  have  female  infants,  born  on  the  feast 
oi  the  holy  abbess  of  Kildare,  baptized  with  the  beautiful  name  of  Bridget's* 
This  even  was  a  practice,  when  such  births  preceded  or  succeeded 
the  iestivdby  a  week  or  two,  and  when  no  other  sister  had  already  received 
that  name  in  a  particular  family. 

_  The  sapient  Irish  antiquary,  Ledwich,  while  considerately  allowing  Si 
•igid  to  have  had  an  existence,  in  one  passage  of  his  work/37  deems  her  to 
have  been  a  purely  imaginary  personage,  in  another,^  or  to  have  been  a 
sort  of  Druidess,  established  at  Kildare  to  preserve  fire,  together  with  her 
community  of  Druidesses,'^  whom  it  would  be  so  absurd  to  call  nuns  We 
cannot  even  discover,  when  the  practice  of  preserving  fire  had  been  at  first 
introduced,  in  Kildare.  MO  Giraldus  Cambrensis  is  the  first  writer  who  men- 
Whatever  had  been  the  system  of  the  heathen  Irish,  with  regard 
to  the  preservation  of  lire,  nothing  occurs  to  prove,  that  the  practice  of  Kil 
dare  was  in  any  manner  derived  from  it  ;  although,  it  is  not  meant  to  be 
denied,  that  some  remnants  of  Pagan  customs  have  been  observed,  without, 
however,  any  bad  intention,  in  Ireland,  as  well  as  in  other  countries.1**  liven, 
it  was  sometimes  thought  advisable,  to  allow  certain  time-sanctioned  usages^ 
harmless  in  themselves  ;  yet,  with  the  precaution  of  having  them  directecf  to 
the  worship  and  honour  of  the  true  and  Almighty  God.1^  As  yet  happens 
m  the  midland  counties,  and  in  parts  of  the  South  of  Ireland,  the  custom  of 
carrying  the  "Brigid  Oge''  is  practised,  especially  by  young  persons;1^ 
still,  this  is  more  likely  to  have  had  a  Christian,'  rather  than  a  Gentile 
origin. M  The  Irish  practice  of  making  circular1**  and  square  crosses  on  St. 

'  For  this  information,  I  fee!  indebted  to  '4'  It  was  kept  constantly  burning,  in  an 

Ven.  John  Kenny,  I).  I).,  P.P.,  Knnis,  and  enclosure  near  the  monastery,  as  Ware  says, 

dean  of  Killaloe  diocese,  conveyed  in  a  letter  <;  De  Ilibeniia  et  Antiquitatibus  ejus,  Dis- 

dated  Knnis,  April  14111,  1875.  quisitiones,"  &c.,  cap.  xvii.,   p.   83,   for  the 

•'°_  In  Cormac  s  "  Glossary,"  the  name  of  benefit  of  the  poor  and  of  guests.     To  this 

Brigit  is  derived  from  /'rco-ai^il,  bnv-s/'inigif,  remark,    Harris  wantonly  added,  "as  was 

in  English  "a  liery  arrow.''     See   "  SAruvr-  pretended."     This  practice  continued  until 

ChorM)K\uy'   translated  and    annotated    by  the  suppression  of  monasteries  in  the  reign 

I»r.  O'Donovan,  edited,  with  Notes  and  In-  of  King  Henry  VIII.     See   Harris'  Ware, 

dices,  by  Whitley  Stokes,  p.  23.  vol.    ii.",    "The    Antiquities    of    Ireland," 

n7  Dr.   Milner  was   induced  to   suppose,  chap,  xxxv.,  p.  238. 

that  Ledwich  did  not  deny  the  existence  of  I4=  See     Dr.    Lanigan's     "Ecclesiastical 

St.  Brigid.      See  "Tour  in   Ireland,"  letter  History  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  sec. 

\i.     Dr.    Milner,   however,   seems  to   have  vi.,  n.  98,  pp.  459,  460. 

observed   only  a  passage   at  p.  387   of  the  I4>  In  reference   to  this  matter,    see    St., 

"Antiquities  of  Ireland,"  overlooking  one  Gregory  the   Great's  letter  to    Mellitus    in 

at  P-  37^.  Bede's  "  Historia  Ecclesiastica  Gentis  An- 

158  See    Dr.    Ledwich's    "Antiquities    of  glorum,"  lib.  i.,  cap.  30. 

Ireland,"  p.  378.  '    '«  Yet  observed  in  Carrigaline,   and    in 

39  Ledwich  imagines,  these  were  intended  other  parts   of  Cork  county.     Letter  from 

to  replace  the  heathen  Druidesses  of  yore.  Very  Rev.   Denis  Canon  M'Swiney,   P.P., 

If  the  Pagan  Irish  worshipped   or  tended  to  the  writer. 

fire,    however,    its    care    was    entrusted    to  '-ts  According   to   a   modern   writer,    the 

Druids,  rather  than  to  Druidesses.  custom  of  carrying  about  an   image  of  St. 

140  Such  account  is  not  referred  to  in  very  Brigid,  on  the  eve  of  her  festival,  is  said  to 

ancient    documents.      The    writers    of   St.  have  been  derived   from    Paganism.      See 

Brigid's  Lives,  it  seems  evident,  knew  no-  Marcus  Keane's  "  Towers  and  Temples  of 

thing  about  it.     See  her  Third  Life,  at  chap.  Ancient  Ireland,"  p.  60. 

84,  and  her  Fourth  Life,  book  ii.,  chap.  57.  '^  These  are  sometimes  called  llog  t)f\i- 

Colgan's   "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  pp.   537,  jp'oe,  "  Brigid's  Ring,"  and  they  are  invari- 

538,  558,  559.  ably  made  by  women  alone.    From  a  draw 


3230^8 


224  LIFE  OF  ST.  B RIGID. 


Brigid's  eve,  still  prevailing  ;  and  the  hanging  out  of  a  ribbon  or  handkerchief 
from  windows14? — yet  pretty  general  in  the  South  of  Ireland148 — maybe  traced 
to  the  discontinuance  of  old  festive  and  Christian  usages.  All  our  legend-lore 
confirms  the  truth  of  such  a  conclusion.  In  the  county  of  Cork,  this  tradi 
tion  prevails.  St.  Patrick  once  said  in  St.  Brigid's  hearing,  that  every  second 
day  from  her  festival  should  be  good.14^  "  Yes,"  replied  the  holy  Brigid, 
"  and  half  of  my  day,  too."  15° 

Although  this  illustrious  patroness  of  Ireland  just1,  deserved  the  title  of 
Thaumaturga,  or  "  Worker  of  Miracles,"  and  althougn  she  was  eminently 
distinguished  for  her  faith,  her  spirit  of  prophecy,  and  her  knowledge  con 
cerning  the  most  sublime  mysteries  of  Christianity  ;  yet,  she  considered,  with 
the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  that  without  charity,  her  works  could  not 
be  rendered  perfect.151  Though  she  spoke  words  of  human  and  angelic 
wisdom  or  eloquence,  she  deemed  herself  as  nothing,  or  not  better  than 
sounding  brass  or  a  tinkling  cymbal,  if  not  poss  3sing  this  queen  of  all 
virtues.  In  the  distribution  of  temporal  goods,  she  was  liberal,  indeed,  and 
almost  to  prodigality,  especially  when  poor  and  distressed  individuals  claimed 
her  protection.  This  was  done,  through  no  motive  of  ostentation,  or  through 
any  pride  of  soul,  through  no  indirect  self-seeking  or  ambition.  She  was  in 
duced,  neither  to  think  evil,  nor  to  feel  indignant,  even  when  unworthy 
persons  approached  to  obtain  her  alms.  She  envied  not  others,  when  fortune 
dealt  adversely  with  herself ;  she  was  humble,  as  the  lowliest  of  her  religious, 
when  placed  over  them  as  a  superior.  She  bore  kindly  and  patiently,  with 
the  perverseness  and  ingratitude  of  some  ;  while,  being  a  lover  of  what  was 
deemed  upright  and  just,  the  holy  Brigid  laboured  indefatigably,  in  the  cause 
of  religion  and  divine  truth.  Speaking  and  understanding  as  a  child,  in  her 
youth,  yet  she  learned  to  love  and  serve  God ;  nor,  in  her  advanced  years 
was  it  deemed  necessary  to  put  away  the  things  she  had  learned,  in  earlier 
life,  since  these  stood  the  test  of  genuine  holiness.  She  was  only  required 
to  glean  fresher  flowers,  and  to  gather  riper  fruits,  before  her  course  on  earth 
had  finally  closed.  Steadily  keeping  her  own  sanctification  in  view,  she 
burned  with  a  holy  zeal  to  secure  the  salvation  of  all  other  persons,  especially 
those  immediately  subject  to  her  regular  rule.  She  undertook  many  wonder 
ful  labours,  and  her  energies  never  failed,  in  bringing  them  to  a  satisfactory 
issue.  In  doing  the  work  of  God,  her  soul  seemed  to  expend  itself  in  each 
particular  action  ;  and,  yet,  after  such  accomplishment,  it  felt  invigorated  for 
fresher  toils.  Bright,  indeed,  is  her  crown  in  Heaven,  and  unfading  are  her 
rewards.  If  she  was  strong  in  faith,  she  was  firm  in  hope  ;  and,  as  an  ardent 
love  of  God  and  of  her  neighbour  animated  her  devoted  spirit,  so  was  she  a 
living  impersonation  on  earth  of  that  virtue,  greatest  of  all,  pure  and  perfect 
charity. 

ing  of  one,  sent  to  the  writer  by  Mr.  Denis  I4S  The  foregoing  and  the  following  infor- 

A.  O'Leary,  Kilbolane  Cottage,  Charleville,  mation  was  kindly  communicated   in   Mr. 

County  Cork,  it  seems  in  every  respect  to  O'Leary 's  letter  of  April  lyth,  1875. 

resemble  St.   Patrick's  tastefully  decorated  '«  Mr.    O'Longan   informs  me,  that  St. 

cross,  so  becomingly  worn  by  Irish  female  Patrick  is  reputed  to  have  said  these  words. 

children   on   their  right  shoulder,   each  St.  I5°  In  the  Irish  version,  the  saying  of  St. 

Patrick's  Day.     Exactly  similar  crosses  are  Patrick  runs  thus  : — 

made  by  men,  and  put  up  in  the  thatch  every  "5^6  •OAJAA  IA  50  niAic 

Patrick's   Day,   but  only  one  is  made  on  6  l^  IAG  b]\i'5-oe  AIIIAC." 

each  festival  occurring.  Then  follows  the  reply :— "  SeAt>,"  mlb"  41  pC 

I47  This  is  said  to   lengthen  during  the  "bpig-ra,  "^5^  ICAC  mo  l<xe  leif." 

night,  and  to  cure  headaches.  ISI  See  i.  Cor.  xiii. 

END  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  ST.  BRIGID. 


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